By Admjn
Councillors in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State have impeached the council chairman, Dr. Fred Okem, over allegations of financial misappropriation and abuse of office.
Okem’s removal came barely two months after the suspension of the Bekwarra council chairman.
In a letter seen on Tuesday, by our correspondent, the impeachment, backed by 12 out of 14 councillors, was hinged on the Cross River State Local Government Law No. 2 of 2007, Section 3 (subsection 3a–d), which empowers the legislature to remove a chairman for misconduct.
According to the lawmakers, the chairman was accused of gross financial mismanagement, refusal to render account of income and expenditure, disregard for council resolutions, and failure to brief the legislature on the state of affairs of the local government.
They also alleged that Okem implemented policies without wide consultation, allowed “undue influence” of his wife in council affairs, and failed to provide funds for the renovation of councillors’ offices nine months after inauguration.
“The chairman has consistently undermined the legislative arm, ignored resolutions, and run the council without transparency,” part of the impeachment notice read.
At press time, Okem had not reacted to his removal, he also did not respond to calls put across by this reporter.
