The Kebbi State House of Assembly has suspended Muhammad Mahuta, the Chairman of Fakai Local Government Area, for alleged gross misconduct and negligence of duty. The decision followed 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 examined several allegations. First, it probed the removal and attempted sale of five electrical transformers. Mahuta initially claimed the transformers were taken for servicing with the permission of a KEDCO official, but later admitted involvement in their misappropriation, intending to sell each for N2.5 million. Evidence of fund transfers into specific accounts linked to the illegal transaction was also uncovered.
Second, the committee found irregularities in the allocation of government farmlands, which had been disposed of unlawfully due to negligence by council officials. It recommended the immediate revocation of these allocations because due process was not followed.
Third, the committee scrutinized the Mahuta Dam rehabilitation project. While Mahuta asserted that the contract was awarded to ZBCC company, the project engineer denied receiving any contract, and the committee confirmed that no company had been awarded the contract despite payment of the contract sum. This inconsistency further implicated the chairman in misconduct.
Based on these findings, the committee concluded that the council chairman was guilty of gross misconduct and negligence of duty, recommending a six‑month suspension. 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 suspension was moved by Muhammad Buhari and seconded by Nura Kangiwa. Speaker Muhammad Usman announced that the suspension takes immediate effect. This development underscores 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.
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