Local council chairman impeached for alleged N1.7bn budget padding in Edo

Members of the legislative arm in Egor local government area in Edo State on Wednesday impeached the chairman, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia, over alleged padding of the council’s supplementary budget.

Eghe Ogbemudia is the daughter of the former military governor of the state, the late Samuel Ogbemudia.

The impeachment followed a vote of no confidence against the chairman during the council’s legislative session presided over by the Leader of the House, Mr. Godwin Edigin.

The councillor representing Ward 2 in the area, Mrs. Stella Ogida, had during the sitting moved a motion for a no-confidence vote against the chairman over alleged gross misconduct.

She said: “This is the 10th month since our inauguration and we, the Councillors of Egor Legislative Arm do not have offices.

“We have also uncovered the padding of the council’s supplementary budget to the tune of N1.7 billion.

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“The chairman did not involve the councilors in the preparation and approval of the council’s supplementary budget.

“After reviewing this and many other acts of gross misconduct, I want to pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman, Ms. Ogbemudia.”

The councillor from Ward 9 in the area, Mr. Elliot Inneh, seconded the motion, saying: “We have tried to reach out to the chairman to no avail.

“Before us today, we have a budget proposal amounting to N6.054 billion that was passed through this hallowed chamber.

“To our greatest surprise, we found out that the chairman in connivance with the erstwhile leader of the House went behind and padded the budget to the tune of N7.89 billion.”

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