By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Emmanuel Yakubu, following allegations of gross misconduct.
The decision was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache.
According to the statement, the removal followes a voice vote in which 19 lawmakers voted in favour, one member abstained, while five members were absent.
Presenting the report of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution, the committee chairman, Davies Etta, said the House had earlier suspended Yakubu for 90 days to allow for a detailed investigation.
Etta explained that the suspension was carried out in line with Section 14(3) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, through Resolution No. 031.
He said the committee subsequently conducted an investigative hearing attended by the Leader of Council, Elizabeth Mbim, other ward councillors, and the Director of General Services and Administration, who represented the Head of Local Government Administration. All parties, he noted, gave testimonies during the hearing.
According to the committee, the Vice Chairman was absent from the hearing but wrote to request a new date on the grounds of ill health. However, the committee said he was reportedly seen at a political rally where he publicly defected from the All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress.
Etta stated that the committee found that Yakubu was no longer interested in retaining his office, having left the political party that sponsored his election to work for another party.
He added that the Vice Chairman’s actions constituted an infraction of Section 20(1) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, 2007 (as amended), and that his lack of synergy with the Council Chairman and the Legislative Council amounted to gross misconduct and a disregard for constitutional authority.
Presiding over the sitting, the Deputy Speaker, Sylvester Agabi, directed that Yakubu should immediately hand over all government property in his custody to the most senior civil servant in the council.
The statement said the removal followed due legislative process and underscored the Assembly’s commitment to accountability, discipline and effective governance in Ogoja Local Government Council.
