By Abasi Ita
The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Idi Yakubu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The resolution followed a voice vote during plenary in which 19 lawmakers voted in support of his removal, one member abstained, while five members were absent.
The decision came after the House considered the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution. The report was presented by the Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, who also serves as Deputy Leader of the House.
Presenting the committee’s findings, Etta recalled that the Ogoja Legislative Council had earlier issued an impeachment notice against the Vice Chairman, citing allegations of gross misconduct. The allegations included abandonment of duty, disregard for constituted authority and rules of engagement, breach of oath of secrecy, and lack of working synergy with the Council Chairman.
He further explained that in line with Section 14 subsection 3 of the Cross River State Local Government Law, and pursuant to House Resolution Number 031, the Assembly had previously suspended Yakubu for 90 days to enable a thorough investigation.
According to Etta, the committee conducted an investigative hearing attended by the Leader of Council, Hon. Elizabeth Mbim, ward councillors, and the Director of General Services and Administration who represented the Head of Local Government Administration. They all gave testimonies during the proceedings.
The committee noted that the Vice Chairman was absent at the hearing but wrote to request a new date on the grounds of ill health. However, he was reportedly seen at a political rally where he publicly defected from the All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress.
Etta stated that the committee concluded that Yakubu had demonstrated a lack of commitment to his office by leaving the political party under which he was elected to join another party and actively work for it. He added that the action amounted to an infraction of Section 20 subsection 1 of the Cross River State Local Government Law 2007 as amended.
The committee further found that the Vice Chairman’s strained relationship with the Council Chairman and the Legislative Council constituted a disregard for constitutional authority and amounted to gross misconduct.
Lawmakers who contributed to the debate expressed concern that the development was detrimental to the effective administration and progress of Ogoja Local Government Council.
Presiding over the sitting, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to upholding the rule of law in the administration of local governments across the state. He directed that Yakubu immediately hand over all government property in his possession to the most senior civil servant in the Council.