The embattled Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council , Shehu Bala Usman has described as unfunded and baseless allegations making the rounds that he embezzled funds over 250 million from the council’s account between January and February this year, by a faceless group , called Transparency, Accountability and Initiative.
In a statement personally signed by the Chairman, described the allegation as the figment of the imagination of the authors who are working in cohorts with his detractors who are out to tarnish his image.
He explained that insinuations making the rounds that he disbursed funds to some selected councillors loyal to him and contractors are false, baseless and wicked.
According to the chairman all documents relating to the award of contracts were not only done according to specifications, by laid done procedures noting that all due diligence was carried out by the legislative in their oversight functions.
The contract awarded to Kega Motors Limited for the supply of six cars followed due process as they were supplied and paid as enshrined in the contract entered into by the two parties.
The Chairman disclosed that all these allegations raised against him is aimed at rubbishing his modest achievement so as to paint him black before the unsuspecting members of the public.
On the allegation of the 2023 budget is full of repetition which suggest fraud, the embattled Chairman noted that , it couldn’t be true , because the document passed through the legislative arm of the council is always scrutinized by the Plateau State House of Assembly before passing it for execution to the executive arm of the Council.
On the alleged transfer of ten million naira from the UBA overhead account to Ishaya Atu and Cecilia Azi without proper definition, he said it’s not true, as every transaction between the council and the bank is appropriately titled, followed due process and well documented.
Usman wondered why a busy-body, faceless group will make spurious allegations when the authority mandated by law has never at any point in time invited the Council Chairman for any explanation to defend himself.
“Allegations by the Transparency , Accountability and Initiative group that these are some of the accusations levelled against the Jos North Council Chairman and his counterparts across the state , clearly indicate that the faceless group is doing the bidding of its paymasters.
“This is because, the peculiarities of the Local Government are different as such, all of them can not be wrongly accused of committing the same offence Jos North should not be made an example of other Local Government areas without thorough investigation”.
The statement advice the so-called Transparency, Accountability Initiative not to delve into issues thatare not sufficiently familiar with, as the Shehu Bala Usman led administration is running an open and transparent government which has received awards and commendation for been exemplary in its conduct.
