The Oyo State House of Assembly has decided to sack the Chairman of Irepo Local Government, Mr. Lateef Sulaiman Adediran, over allegations of diverting public funds. During a plenary held in Ibadan, the lawmakers disclosed that the removal of Adediran from office was in line with Section 21 of the local government law, 2001, as amended.
The decision was made following a report presented by the Joint Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honors, Public Accounts, Finance, and Appropriation. The committee had investigated the allegations of running the local government with impunity levelled against the embattled chairman.
The report held Adediran culpable of diverting public funds meant for the purchase of Toyota Camry 2016 model. He was also allegedly indicted by the office of the Auditor-General for Local Government in the state. The House has directed the Executive Arm of the Government to ensure that Adediran refunds a sum of ₦4,616,800.00 to the coffers of Irepo Local Government, being the difference between unreasonable ₦5.8m spent on replacement of covers of exercise books.
The Assembly immediately instructed the Vice Chairman of the Council to assume the position of acting Chairman after the sack of Adediran. The Leader of the House, Mr Busari Adegbenro, was also mandated to fill the position of the acting Vice Chairman.
This decision by the Oyo State House of Assembly serves as a warning to those in authority who have failed to be transparent in their dealings with public funds. It affirms the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that those who engage in fraudulent practices in the discharge of their duties will be held accountable for their actions.
