On the heels of last week’s vote of no confidence passed by the Legislature of Yakurr Local Government Council, Cross River Central, on the chairman of council, the House today served the chairman, Obeten Ofem Ebri, a Notice of Impeachment.
Otu Ibor Obeten, who read the Notice of Impeachment, informed that, the Notice has become necessary because the chairman had thrice refused to honour the invitation of the House to make clarifications on certain governance issues. Particularly, Obeten maintained that, the “delay and non-submission of Council’s monthly statement of income and expenditure to the House for consideration and approval “, negates set down laws as contained in Section 3 (3) of the CRS Local Government Law No. 22 of 2007 as amended.
The House also faulted the council boss’ refusal to hold regular meetings with the Executive that should facilitate and culminate in the preparation of budget estimates for the council. The witholding of his assent to the only bye-law passed and forwarded by the House to the chairman since 2021, without recourse to the statutory provisions of the law, the House again said, violates Section 40 (4) of the CRSLG Law No. 22 of 2007, as amended.
On the issue of the non-presentation of year 2022 council estimates and budget to the Legislature for approval as well as not spending within the budgetary limits, the House said this violates Section 52 (b) of the said law, coupled with his refusal to honour three invitations to the House, the House concluded that, “based on the above, the House with its statutory function to regulate its own procedures in line with Section 38 of the CRSLG Law No 22 of 2007, hereby impeach the Executive Chairman of Yakurr LGA and expect him to appear before the House or send his representations to the House within seven days to state why he should not be impeached and removed from office, citing Section 12 (a&b) of the CRSLG Law.”
Earlier, Timothy Mbang, (Inyima), Bassey Bassey Uket (Mkpani/Agoi), Usang Usang Effiom (Afrekpe/Epenti), and John Ojah Omini (Biko-Biko), rejected a letter forwarded to the House by the chairman, intimating them that he could not honour their invitation because he was traveling to Abuja to witness the conferment of a national honour on state governor, Ben Ayade.
