Alleged Misconduct: Kogi SSG testifies against deputy governor

* …as Panel begins sitting

The Secretary to the (Kogi) State Government (SSG), Mrs.
Folashade Ayoade-Arike, on Monday, entered the witness box to
testify at the panel hearing investigating allegations of gross
misconduct against the deputy governor of the state, Elder Simon
Achuba.

Others that testified at the panel sitting at the state High
Court, Lokoja, included the Acting Director (Treasury), Office of
the Accountant General, Mr. Elijah Ebinemi, who presented before
the panel, evidence of alleged salaries/allowances payment, to the
embattled deputy governor.

The certified true copies of said payment was said to have
covered between 2016 and 2017.

Also testifying was Saliu Hassan Itopa, Cashier, Office of the
Deputy Governor.

The Chief Judge (CJ) of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah had on
August 23, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate allegations
of gross misconduct raised by the state House of Assembly against
the Deputy Governor.

Members of the panel are: Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN) (Chairman),
Hajia Bilikisu Abdulmalik Basher, Mr. William A. Aliwo, Canon Z. A.
Asun, Alhaji Isa Adeboye, Mr. Muhammed A. Aikoye and Mr. Ada
Shaibu. Mr. Bamidele Aina, while the Deputy Court Registrar (DCR),
Special Duties at the High Court will serve as secretary to the
panel.

The SSG under cross examination by lead counsel to Achuba,
Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), among others, alleged that the state deputy
governor last attended the weekly state executive council meeting,
in August 2018.

She said that she was incompetent to issue query to the deputy
governor, the latter being her boss.

She stated that while it is not under the schedule of the Office
of the SSG to pay the salary of the deputy governor, all workers of
the state, including the deputy governor and his aides, have
however been paid “up-to-date”.

She said that her office is responsible for the payment of
salary to political office holders.

Under cross examination by Mr. Anthony Adeniyi, lead counsel to
state government, Itopa, the cashier in the office of the deputy
governor, explained that allowances and other monies, including
impress are paid direct into the bank accounts of those
concerned.

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