The Kebbi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Fakai Local Government Area, Muhammad Mahuta, due to alleged gross misconduct and negligence of duty. This decision was made after the adoption of a report by the House Special Committee, chaired by Salihu Dangoje, during a plenary session on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.
The committee’s investigation centered on several allegations, including the removal and attempted sale of five electrical transformers, the illegal allocation of government farmlands, and a breach of contract related to the rehabilitation of Mahuta Dam. According to Dangoje, Mahuta initially claimed that the transformers were taken for servicing with the permission of a KEDCO official. However, he later confessed to involvement in the misappropriation of the transformers, which were intended to be sold at N2.5 million each.
The committee also discovered evidence of fund transfers into specific accounts linked to the illegal transaction. Furthermore, they found irregularities in the allocation of government farmlands, which were disposed of unlawfully due to negligence by council officials. The committee recommended the immediate revocation of these allocations, as due process was not followed.
Regarding the Mahuta Dam rehabilitation project, the committee found inconsistencies in the chairman’s claim that the contract was awarded to ZBCC company. The project engineer denied being awarded any contract, and the committee established that no company was awarded the contract despite payment of the contract sum.
As a result, the committee found the council chairman guilty of gross misconduct and negligence of duty, recommending his suspension for six months. Additional recommendations included the immediate commencement of the Mahuta Dam rehabilitation, revocation of the illegally allocated farmlands, and a commendation letter to the NSCDC Divisional Officer in Fakai for professionalism in handling the transformer incident.
The motion for the chairman’s suspension was moved by Muhammad Buhari and seconded by Nura Kangiwa. The Speaker, Muhammad Usman, announced that the suspension takes immediate effect. This development highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in local government administration, and the need for officials to adhere to due process and ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.