By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The accusations of a faceless group, Transparency, Accountability and Initiative has been described by Hon. Shehu Usman Bala, the Executive Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council as the imagination of the group, as they try to do the bidding of the Paymaster.
Hon. Usman, who made this position known in a press statement, dated 18th June, 2023, made available to REALITY, also questioned how the group was able to attribute the same accusation to the 17 Elected Local Government Chairman in the 17 Local Government Councils without shame.
According to the Chairman, “Allegations by the Transparency, Accountability and Initiative group that, these are some of the accusations leveled against the Jos North Council Chairman and his counterparts across the state, clearly indicates that, this faceless group is doing the bidding of its paymasters.
“This is because, the peculiarities of the Local Governments are different and as such, all of them cannot be wrongly accused of committing the same offence as Jos North. They should be advised not to publish allegations without thorough investigation(s).
“The statement further advises the so-called, Transparency, Accountability Initiative not to delve into issues that they are not sufficiently familiar with, as the Shehu Bala Usman led administration is running an open and transparent government which has received awards and commendations for been exemplary in its conduct”.
In debunking the allegations of Transparency, Accountability and Initiative Group, Hon. Shehu Usman Bala stated that, “The insinuations making the rounds that he disbursed funds to some selected councilors loyal to him and contractors in the execution of projects in the locality are false, baseless and malicious”.
In part, he stated that, “all documents relating to the award of contracts are properly processed and usually goes through due diligence and are executed according to specifications by the legislature during 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 further that, all these allegations raised against him are aimed at rubbishing his modest achievement so as to, “paint him black before the unsuspecting members of the public”.
READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE CHAIRMAN BELOW:-
JOS NORTH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN DEBUNKS ALLEGATION ON EMBEZZLING OVER 250 MILLION NAIRA.
The executive 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 N250 million from the council’s coffers between January and February this year by a faceless group, called Transparency, Accountability and Initiative.
In a strong worded statement personally signed by the Chairman, he noted that, the allegation is the figment of the imagination of the authors, who are working in cohorts with his detractors, who are determined to tarnish his image.
He explained that, insinuations making the rounds that he disbursed funds to some selected councilors loyal to him and contractors in the execution of projects in the locality are false, baseless and malicious.
According to the Chairman, “all documents relating to the award of contracts are properly processed and usually goes through due diligence and are executed according to specifications by the legislature during 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 further 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, which is riddled with repetitions suggesting fraud, the Chairman noted that, that is false due to the fact that, the document passed through the legislative arm of the council and always undergoes scrutiny by the Plateau State House of Assembly before passing it for execution to the Executive arm of the Council.
The transfer of ten million naira from the UBA overhead account to the duo of Ishaya Atu and Cecilia Azi without proper definition is unfounded as every transaction between the council and the bank is appropriately captured, followed due process and well documented.
Usman wondered why a busy-body faceless group, would make spurious allegations when the authority mandated by law has never at any point in time, invited him for any explanation.
Allegations by the Transparency, Accountability and Initiative group that these are some of the accusations leveled against the Jos North Council Chairman and his counterparts across the state, clearly indicates that the faceless group is doing the bidding of its paymasters.
This is because, the peculiarities of the Local Governments are different and as such, all of them cannot be wrongly accused of committing the same offence as Jos North. They should be advised not to publish allegations without thorough investigation(s).
The statement advice the so-called, Transparency, Accountability Initiative not to delve into issues that they are not sufficiently familiar with, as the Shehu Bala Usman led administration is running an open and transparent government which has received awards and commendations for been exemplary in its conduct.
Signed:
Shehu Bala Usman.
Executive Chairman.
Jos Norh LGC.
18th – 06-2023.
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