Lagos Assembly begins move to impeach Ambode

Lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly have begun a move to formally start the process of impeaching Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, accusing him of incurring expenditure from the 2019 budget without presenting it to the assembly.

At plenary on Monday, the lawmakers gave the governor one week ultimatum to explain his action, saying failure to do so could lead to the commencement of impeachment proceedings.

Majority of the lawmakers at the plenary demanded the impeachment of the governor while some others asked him to resign.

But Mudashiru Obasa, the speaker, appealed to his colleagues to give the governor one final chance to defend himself.

He, however, asked those pushing for the governor’s impeachment to start collecting signatures.

Read also: Muhammadu Buhari-led government after my life- Gov. Ortom alleges

The budget presentation delay has been generating great friction between the assembly and the governor.

On January 3, Olusegun Banjo, Lagos state commissioner for budget and economic planning, had said the state’s 2019 budget of N852.317 billion had been submitted to the state assembly.

It was the first time in 10 years that the state would not present the budget before the fiscal year ended.

The commissioner explained that the governor had sent verbal information to present the budget on December 24, after the state executive council approval on December 19.

But the presentation did not take place as the house was on recess and could not form a quorum.

On January 21, the lawmakers frustrated the bid of the governor to present the budget.

Ambode had contacted the lawmakers that he was set to present the budget but he was not given the opportunity.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now