Saturday, 19 October 2013

2012 FLOOD RELIEF: KOGI HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DENIES RECEIVING PETIOTION AGAINST DEPUTY GOV.




The leadership of the Kogi State House of Assembly says it has not received any petition against the Kogi State Deputy Governor,Yomi Awoniyi over misappropriation of money donated for flood.
Speaking with Journalists in Lokoja, the Majority Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly,Hon Yakubu Yunusa, said the House is not aware of any report with regards to the misappropriation of funds as it relates to  last year's flood that ravaged the state,  as was alleged in an on-line report.
The Majority Leader warned those posting reports concerning the State Assembly on line, to desist forth with as it was becoming a recurring event by some persons in the last few days.
While noting that the Assembly is presently on recess, the majority leader assured that the House, on resumption will warn mischief makers to desist from using on line reports  to discredit the activities of the House.

The Majority Leader described the House as presently constituted as focused and united and denied any knowledge of an impeachment move by the Assembly against the State Deputy Governor.
When contacted, the  Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Michael Abu, said the State flood account is domiciled in the Ministry of Finance and the office of the Accountant General.
The Press Secretary noted that  about N760 million and not N3 billion, was received by the State as donations from the federal government and good spirited corporate bodies and individuals.  He disclosed that, on request and for record purposes, an income and expenditure account was presented to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of  Assembly in July this year.  He further said the funds received where judiciously utilized and advised  on-line reporters to always verify their facts before posting stories.
It will be recalled that an on line report alleged that Kogi Lawmakers were plotting the removal of Yomi Awoniyi,Kogi State Deputy Governor. The report alleged that 23 out of the 25-Members of the State House of Assembly have signed an impeachment notice to remove the Deputy Governor of the State alleging gross misappropriation of over N3 billion flood relief funds meant to alleviate the plight of the flood disaster victims last year.
Incidentally, the last public appearance of the Deputy Governor was on the 16th of October 2013, at the Youth Empowerment  Programme ceremony initiated by the Right Honourable Speaker of the Kogi State house of Assembly Hon Momoh Jimoh Lawal. Most of the members of the house were present at the event where over 100 youths where  given motorcycles and other mechanical  equipment which would assist them gain some measure of economic independence. The event was chaired by the Deputy Governor, Arc Yomi Awoniyi.

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