Wike after LG funds, chairmen allege

Governor Nyesome Wike of the PDP is up against local government council chairmen in the state who are all members of the APC.

His attempt to remove them from office hit a brick wall as the National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, restrained the governor, the state House of Assembly and their agents from dissolving or, in any manner whatsoever, interfering with the tenure of office of the 23 local government council chairmen in Rivers State.

Trial judge of at the National Industrial Court, Justice J. Agbadu-Fishim, made the order, Monday, following an ex-parte application argued by counsel to the council chairmen.

Meanwhile, the council chairmen have threatened to petition the EFCC over an alleged plan by Wike, to order the diversion of the June 2015 federal allocation meant for them.

They accused Wike of instructing the state Accountant General to divert the funds.

The state Public Relations Officer of the All Local Government of Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Eyiba, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the reason for the alleged directive from the governor remained unknown to them.

Eyiba warned that apart from the EFCC, council chairmen in the state had resolved to take the matter to other relevant bodies.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, adjourned till July 9, for hearing in another suit by the 22 council chairmen against the Rivers State Government. The case is before Justice B. Quadri.

Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sir. Opunabo Inko-Tariah, said that he was not aware that the governor gave any directive to the accountant general, describing the council chairmen’s allegation as spurious.

He said, “I have not heard of such a directive from the governor and so can’t verify the authenticity or otherwise of the allegation.

“However, how did they know there was such a directive if it was oral as they claim? Are they (council chairmen) insinuating having a pact with the Accountant General?”

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