Cross River Assembly Sacks Ogoja LG Vice Chair Over Misconduct

The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area Council, Emmanuel Yakubu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, Matthew Okache.

According to the statement, Yakubu’s removal followed a voice vote on the floor of the House, with 19 lawmakers voting in favour, one abstaining, and five members absent during the sitting.

Presenting the report of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution, the committee chairman, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, said the Assembly had earlier suspended Yakubu for 90 days to allow for a detailed investigation.

“After initial deliberations and in line with Section 14(3) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, the House, through Resolution No. 031, suspended Yakubu for 90 days to allow for a thorough investigation by the committee,” Etta said.

He explained that the committee conducted an investigative hearing attended by the Leader of Council, Elizabeth Mbim, other ward councillors, and the Director of General Services and Administration, who represented the Head of Local Government Administration. All present, he said, gave testimonies during the proceedings.

According to Etta, Yakubu was absent at the hearing but wrote to the committee requesting an adjournment on the grounds of ill-health. However, the committee noted that he was later seen at a political rally where he publicly defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The committee concluded that the Vice Chairman had shown disinterest in his office by leaving the party that brought him into government to join another political platform and actively work for it.

Etta further stated that Yakubu’s actions violated Section 20(1) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, 2007 (as amended), adding that his lack of cooperation with the Council Chairman and the Legislative Council amounted to a disregard for constituted authorities and constituted gross misconduct.

Presiding over the sitting, Deputy Speaker Sylvester Agabi directed that Yakubu should hand over all government property in his possession to the most senior civil servant in the council.

The Assembly said the removal followed due legislative process and underscored its commitment to accountability, discipline and effective governance in Ogoja Local Government Council.