Olu Samuel, Lokoja
Less than one month to the end of his tenure,the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Taofiq Isah has auctioned properties worth hundreds of millions of naira belonging to the Local Government.
Investigation revealed that various items belonging to the local government area ranging from motor vehicles, typewriters, motorcycles furnitures, cooking utensils, mowers and other items were put up for sale to raise funds for the council following the freezing of state and local government account by the governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello last week.
Sources close to the local government area told our correspondent that the freezing of the account has put the local government areas in the state in precarious financial situation
The items allegedly sold out are; two Toyota Corolla, 1.8 Salon 2014, Toyota Camry Salon, Toyota Hummer Hiace Bus belonging to the Legislative Council, Toyota Hiace Conference bus and that of NULGE, Toyota Camry Salon Car Envelope, 2 Toyota Sienna, Ford Hilux Van, Ford Jeep, Toyota Pick Up Van, Quiqui, Dyna Van and other vehicles.
It also allegedly includes other Government valuable such as ploughs, harrows, tractor scrap, tractors (Ursus 4512), MF3755, new Holland, 2 cat graders 120G and others sold #16,560,000.
The remaining items the source said are; four televisions, five standing fans, generators, four refrigerators, typewriters, motor saw and so on.
According to the source”This is the first time in the history of Ijumu Local Government when a Council Chairman will sell properties of Government just less than a month to end his tenure without giving room for due process”.
Our Source further revealed that the Local Government Secretariat is now empty as Tractors distributed by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to enhance farming and food security including the ones he met have been allegedly sold at a ridiculous amount.
“Before his appointment as Administrator in 2016 and subsequent election as Chairman in 2020, the Local Government will always grade feeder roads but Isah has sold the Graders as most rural roads are presently impassable and in a dilapidated condition.
“The alleged fraudulent Auction activities was done in connivance with an Auctioneer, Salawu Onimisi from Kogi Central” the source added.
A Staff of the Local Government who also pleaded anonymity because she was not mandated to speak, wants the State Governor, Yahaya Bello to dissolve the process and direct refund of funds collected in the exercise, saying the entire Local Government will be empty if the Auction activities allowed to succeed.
She stated further that no Local Government Staff benefitted from the exercise and there was no transparency and accountability in the entire process.
“There is nothing left in the Local Government anymore. Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, eminent Ijumu personalities must not allow this fraudulent Auction which will turn our Local Government to a desert and shadow of its self. How will a man sell 70% of government property to himself through proxy?
However, the Chairman in a reaction said that the items sold were moribound items with little or no economic value.
A statement issued in response by the Special Assistant to the Chairman , Media and Publicity,Othman Hamidu stated that the property sold were moribound while the sale was handled by a professional and reputable auctioneer
“It is a known fact that assets that have become moribund over the years and impacting on the local government lean resources can be auctioned out at a specified amount determined by auctioneers and money gotten remitted to the Local Government’s account” he said.
He said that upon assumption of office in 2016, the Chairman declared an emergency on rural roads opening them up every dry season to allow most of his people access their farm outputs.
“The Executive Chairman has made a lot of sacrifices in terms of security, infrastructures and basic health facilities in his seven productive years as the Chief Executive officer of the Local Government which earned him many national awards”.