- Lawmakers at the Lagos state House of Assembly
summon Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over alleged
infractions
- The lawmakers allege that the governor committed
gross violations over the state's appropriation law
- Some of the members of the state Assembly call for
his impeachment while others want him to explain
before any action is taken
The members of Lagos state House of Assembly
have moved against Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode in an action that could lead to
impeachment process on him
The Lagos Assembly also summoned the
governor to appear before it within one week
over the 2019 budget, which has caused
disagreement between the two arms of
government .
The governor is under the heat over the way he
presented the 2019 budget as well as issues with
the 2018 appropriation law of the state.
A committee set up by the House and chaired by
the deputy speaker, Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun, had
reportedly alleged major infractions and gross
violations.
Members of the committee included Hon
Moshood Oshun, chairman, committee on public
accounts, Gbolahan Yishawu (budget), Dayo
Saka-Fafunmi (environment) and Abiodun Tobun
(works).
The speaker of the House, Rt Hon Mudashiru
Obasa told the lawmakers that it was important
to give the governor a fair hearing over the issue
involving and the 2019 budget.
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According to Obasa, there have been violations of
the constitution and infractions on the part of
the governor.
"The attorney general, finance commissioner and
commissioner for budget and economic planning that ought
to have advised the governor did not do so.
"The most important thing is that we should let the people
know that a budget that was yet to be approved was being
spent, which was why we could not attend to the governor
on the budget on Monday 21, January.
"We must give them a fair hearing to come and explain
what happened.
"The point has been made that there must be something
before the House before you can commence expenditure.
We want to call on the governor to come within a week to
explain himself along with the governor.
"We can start gathering signatures for impeachment. We
can exercise patience and wait till another time," Obasa
said.
Eshinlokun revealed that the committee met with
relevant commissioners and heads of agencies
adding that the committee met with the
commissioner For budget and economic
planning, Hon Segun Banjo, who said that no
money had been spent for the year.
The deputy speaker said that the accountant
general told the committee that warrant had
been issued that they could spend up to 25
percent of the preceding budget before the
approval of that of the new year.
He said that they would have to make a recourse
to the House if they wanted to spend up to N200
million.
"We pointed out that the Governor ought to lay the budget
of the New Year before December 31st, but that so far the
budget was yet to be laid, which was on January 23, 2019.
"We asked them to bring out the law that allows them to
spend up to 20% of the budget of the preceding year. They
could not bring out such law and we said what they did was
wrong.
"We discovered that people have started receiving alerts
and this has a grave implication for the executive.
"It is our finding that for smooth running of government,
there must be a strict adherent to the constitution and it
must not be violated.
"We decided to bring the report before the lawmakers for us
to take action," he said.
Gbolahan Yishawu further explained that the
committee on budget discovered during budget
appropriation review that there were some
specific expenditure in the budgets that ought to
have been approved by the House over which
funds were expended.
He said these were misnomers, and that they
noticed variation in the expenditure and budget
approved.
"We had issues of virement and monies being spent without
approval.
"We had cases of items that were not budgeted for being
carried out, it shows the executive rewrite the budget at
will.
"The constitution states that the State House of Assembly
must approve all expenditures," he said adding that “things
are shutting down, things are being slowed down by the
government.
"It is as if nothing is happening in the state now. Breach of
the constitution and gross misconduct are being committed
here, and the punishment is clear.
"We should begin an impeachment process of need be if the
executive does not retrace their steps," he said.
Tunde Braimoh, who said that the manner of
revelation was of serious concern, noted that
they all swore to uphold the tenets of the
constitution of Nigeria.
He added that sections 120 and 121 explained the
roles of each arm of government when it comes
to financial expenditure.
"If we continue like this, it means we are moving on the ebb
of destruction. The issue of gross misconduct should be
closely looked into and necessary sanctions applied," he
said.
In his explanation, Bisi Yusuf pointed out that
the governor is an accountant and was an acting
auditor general in 2001 and was confirmed in
2005.
"With his level of exposure, he cannot claim ignorance. He
is being surrounded by intellectuals, so they ought to have
advised him including the deputy governor and the
commissioner for budget and economic planning.
"The attorney general ought to have been removed for
quoting a law that does not exist.
"All those, who are given the governor bad advice should be
removed.
"In the whole of Lagos, things have shut down. This is an
offence that is not pardonable. I want to say this is an
impeachable offence for the governor and the
commissioners," he said.
Hon Rotimi Olowo
Rewriting of the budget is an impeachable
offence. The government has been shut down
and our roads are in a sorry state. There must be
continuity of projects in the budget and this is
not followed. Borrowing without informing the
House is impeachable. IPP is being owed. If the
governor is tired, he should resign.
Hon Moshood Oshun
When you apply for a job, and you are given, if
you are tired, you can leave. If the governor is
tired, he should go. The budget is a law, when
we pass a budget, they rewrite their own. What
they say is that they are above the law. If you go
to Alausa today, all the MDAs are shut down. All
their files are with the governor and he did not
work on them.
Hon Richard Kasunmu
This is a non-compliance with the rule of law.
The state is about to be totally shut down, so we
should checkmate the situation. If the governor
is tired, he should throw in the towel. We cannot
keep on standstill because some people are tired.
Hon Rasheed Makinde
Three years down the lane, the executive cannot
tell the people of Lagos that they don't know
what they are doing. It is obvious that the
governor is tired, so they should all go. They
even made a mistake in the letter they wrote to
the House. Lagos State used to present its budget
before others even before the federal
government. They ought to work based on the
budget or they come for reordering. All
government agencies have been rendered
useless, civil servants are sleeping in their
offices. The State House of Assembly must
approve the budget. We must pass a vote of no
confidence on the Attorney General,
commissioners for budget, finance, the governor
and the deputy governor.
Hon Yinka Ogundimu
The governor has always been disobeying our
motions. They refused to follow our motions on
the environment, which is why everywhere is
dirty. If you look at the various projects not
provided for in the budget that are being done,
then it is breach of the constitution. The people
concerned should resign before we invoke the
aspect of the constitution that gives us power to
remove them from office. We should make it
clear that there have been warnings from us.
Hon Sola Giwa
This is a matter of constitutionality and it is
about the law. We all swore to uphold the law. If
you breach the law, there is a consequence and
the best is for the House to begin an
impeachment process.
Hon Victor Akande
There is no need for virement according to the
constitution. I don't think there is any budget
before the House. The constitution states that the
budget must be laid and it is a gross misconduct.
So, we should do the needful.
Hon Fatai Mojeed.
We received the money from Paris Fund and
other funds, the executive did not take
permission before they spent the money.
Hon. Jude Idimogu
The government is not moving forward. Our
party is the APC and we are doing well. The
government is not putting us in the light and we
have the opposition that are watching us. No
budget has been laid before the House; the key
members such as attorney general,
commissioners for finance and commissioner for
budget and economic planning. The needful is
impeachment.
Hon Noheem Raheem
I support the fact that they should resign if they
are tired.
Hon Fatai Oluwa
This is a deliberate attempt by the governor not
to bring the budget before the House. He is
surrounded by erudite lawyers that ought to
have advised him. Public works, LAWMA, IPP are
more working. If it would be necessary to sign
and send him out of office it would be okay.
Hon Oladele Adekanye
It is clear that there are infractions and
impeachable offence committed. The defences of
the commissioners are not tenable.
Hon Sabur Olayiwola
There have been abuse of the constitution and
disobedient to the constitution. Spending without
making recourse to the Assembly is an
impeachable offence. The best thing is to show
him that we are representing our people and that
we are not here for fun. The beat thing is to let
them know that we mean business. The
permanent secretary/accountant general that is
talking about 25% spending should be brought to
book.
Hon Akeem Shokunle
The financial misconduct of the governor is
obvious and we should begin an impeachment
process.
Hon Mosunmola Sangodara
The situation is an unfortunate one. Section 121
of the constitution states the appropriation bill
should be laid before the House and this has not
been done. It is an abuse of office and an undue
influence by the governor. We can start an
impeachment process and pass a vote of no
confidence on some of the members of the
executive.
Hon Funmilayo Tejuosho
We are the voice of the people of Lagos state and
we perform oversight functions to ensure that
the government do the best for the people.
Accountability is not being done here. Section
121 made it clear that the appropriation bill
should be laid before the house. Section 122
states that if that has been done, you can now
spend 25% of the budget estimate for a period of
six months. We need to forward the infractions
to the Governor. The tax payers should know
what their money is being spent on.
Hon Setonji David
The infractions are too grave, there is a problem
and we need to do what is right. The government
must be held responsible for their actions.
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Hon Akeem Bello
The governor and his Deputy should tender their
resignation letter.
Hon Dayo Saka-Fafunmi
I am sad over the revelations by what the deputy
speaker reads and during out interactions with
the executive. The business of governance is not
based on sentiments, it is based on law. Section
120 of the constitution that talks about the public
fund is very important. Public fund does not
belong to any of us, it belongs to the people of
Lagos state. Section 120 subsection two states
that no money should be withdrawn from the
accounts of the states unless it is approved by
the House. All the violations amount to gross
misconduct. Section 188 subsection defines gross
misconduct. We strongly believe that essential
services that ought to be met are missing in the
state. I am in line with the statement and
decisions of the members that if the executive
members are not ready for governance, they
should resign or should be impeached.
Hon Mojisola Miranda
The constitution is clear that there is punishment
for any offence.
Hon Dayo Famakinwa
I want to support my colleagues that the offences
are impeachable and we should activate the
process immediately.
Hon Folajinmi Mohammed
There is a vagrant abuse of the constitution,
which is an impeachable offence.
Hon Lanre Ogunyemi
It is an issue of flagrant disobedient to the
constitution. A review of a previous year's budget
is a precursor to the approval of the new budget.
A review of the 2018 budget shows poor
performance. MDAs complained of inability to
access their funds. All these infractions should
be communicated to the governor for his
reaction and if he fails to do so, the House can
begin a process of impeachment.
Hon Omotayo Oduntan
Today is a sad day. The executive just moved
money from one ministry to another without
recourse to the Assembly. When all these
happen, it shows a total disregard to the budget
being passed by the House. We should get across
to the Governor to explain himself or else we
should begin an impeachment process.
Hon Sanai Agunbiade
There are three arms of government of which the
executive is one. Our government is still running
and not shut down. What we want to do is to
ensure that the infractions from one arm of
government does not affect another. It is clear
that the budget has not been presented before
the House. My colleagues have addressed all the
issues. We should let the public know that we do
not have the budget before the House.
Three suggestions we made, that the
commissioners, who were approved by the House
and are working with the governor should have
vote of no confidence passed on them. They have
failed in their responsibilities.
The next is for the governor to resign or we
should begin an impeachment process against
the Governor. We can communicate to him to
reign or failure to do that is for us to start
collecting signatures of lawmakers so that we can
be seeing to have done our job.
Hon Rotimi Abiru
I want to adopt what has been done without
wasting much time. There have been some
infractions on the part of the Governor and the
position of the law is clear.
Hon Wahab Jimoh
I saw this coming like an ocean surge. The
attorney general wrote the House to withdraw
the private member bills before the House. I had
been noticing that there would be crisis. The
report I saw with the deputy speaker shows that
the 2019 is being implemented.

Source: https://www.legit.ng/1218364-updated-lagos-assembly-moves-ambode-alleged-gross-misconduct.html