LG AUTONOMY: TRUST IS PIVOTAL, MISAPPROPRIATION CHECKS ON NSIT IBOM TRANSITION CHAIRMAN.

A political storm is brewing in Nsit Ibom LGA as the Transition Chairman, Mrs. Otobong Aaron faces severe allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Sources close to the council have revealed that the Chairman illegally withdrew a substantial amount from the council account to fund a false trip to Ghana with the Head of Local Government Service. Furthermore, it is alleged that the Chairman embezzled 29 million naira earmarked for rural road gradings, a project aimed at improving communities infrastructure.

According to insiders, the illegal withdrawal was made without the required approval or budgetary allocation of the FGPC, as most times funds withdrawn are higher than what was approved in the FGPC, violating financial regulations and raising questions about the Chairman's stewardship of public funds. The embezzlement of funds meant for rural road gradings has left many communities in the LGA in disarray, with residents expressing outrage and disappointment at the council transition chairman.

The allegations have sparked widespread outrage, with calls for the Chairman's immediate probe and a thorough investigation into the matter. The council's financial management has recently come under scrutiny with large scale misappropriation of funds, diversions and embezzlement, and demands are being made for transparency and accountability, even by the transition committee members.

The Transition Chairman has yet to respond to these allegations, fueling speculation about their involvement in the scandal. The [State Governor's Office/Legislative Assembly] has been petitioned to intervene and ensure that justice is served.

Following several interviews with some members of the transition committee (names withheld), it is further revealed that the sum of six million, seven hundred and seventy thousand naira (6,770,000) only was withdrawn by the TC Chairman Mrs. Otoobong Aaron for a false trip to Ghana with the Head of Local Government Service (HOLS), Mrs. Jenny Inyang, a trip which was perceived only embarked upon by the HOLS, and for accountability on several occasions, Nsit Ibom LG Transition Committee Members have severally asked the Transition Chairman to provide flight and hotel itineraries for her trip which she has failed to provide till date.

The transition members interviewed by our correspondence, further acknowledged financial recklessness and a high handedness on the transition chairman, as they alleged her fragrant abuse and assault on their person by her paid thugs whenever she is opposed in the councils FGPC meetings, these issues of harassments on the Vice chairman and other committee members has often times been reported to the Department of State Security and other sister security agencies but have been swept under the carpet by those close to her, recently a report was received of the arrest and incarceration of one Bassey Joseph in the police cell for four days on the orders of the council transition chairman because he made a post on social media (Facebook) soliciting financial aid. other fingers have also been pointed at her fraudulent withdrawals of huge sums from the council account without approvals by the FGPC, payment of five hundred thousand (500,000) monthly to her spouse, and also payment of five hundred and four hundred thousand naira to the HOLGS and DOF respectively, also some aggrieved transition committee members has also hinted that FGPC has demanded account for funds disbursed to the council farm and revenue generated by the farm to the council which was actually the reason for the set up of the farm and for food sufficiency to Nsit Ibom people citing that some aggrieved committee members are ready to send a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation of the Transition Committee Chairman.

On interview with few residents of Afaha Offiong where the council farm is located, it is observed that the council farm was created on the sole basis of public relations, alleging that produce where nowhere to be found in the local government village markets, due to the transition Chairman's modus of using farms produce as public relations to close allies whereas hunger still continue to ravage households in Nsit Ibom LGA, at our correspondence disposal it is said that federal and state government palliatives were sometimes said to be personal items she purchased for the grassroot, while converting the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) relief materials purchased for the distribution to vulnerable individuals affected by natural disasters as her personal magnanimity while withdrawing funds from the council to cover the cost.

Further documents at the disposal of our correspondence further shows the Transition Chairman had also withdrawn the sun of twenty nine million naira from the council account for road grading, an amount which the FGPC approved twenty four million but to the chagrin of the committee members the chairman has withdrawn an additional five million without due approvals, and investigations shows road graded if audited amounts only to about nine million naira only, giving the council chairman the leverage of pocketing twenty million naira (20,000,000) , part of the money a member of the transition committee has alleged is being used to fund her electoral consulting and for paid endorsements.

Our correspondent also gathered numerous disclaimer letters from the Nigerian Senate Committee on Local Government and Multichoice limited (Owners of DSTV)at disposal, he further unearthed the transition Chairman's deceit and fraudulent withdrawals from the council account with funds said to be given to sort persons (discovered to be fake) who paraded themselves as members of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Local Government and also a group called the DSTV grassroot crew which was claimed to have come to the council from Kenya.

This developing story has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the local government, highlighting the need for greater accountability, transparency and oversight in governance. As our correspondents investigation unfolds with facts and documents the many ills of decay in the local governance, it is now pertinent that state Governors understand as the LG autonomy takes full implementation soon grassroot governance should be given core attention with decisive actions to transparency and accountability, and decisive action against individuals responsible for such wide scale corrupt practices in Local Government Areas across Nigeria.

Details of Misappropriation of funds for January 2024.

1. Continuous payment of Transition Chairman's spouse the sum of five hundred thousand naira (500,000) monthly
2. Withdrawal of twenty nine million naira for road grading as against the twenty four presented to FGPC for approval. No account for the additional five million naira.
3. Withdrawal of Eleven million naira for grassroot empowerment while only one million one hundred thousand was used, with no account for the balance of nine million, nine hundred thousand naira.
4. Continuous Monthly withdrawal of one million naira for technical session, what is technical session ?
5. Continuous Monthly Withdrawal of four hundred thousand for banking logistics and charges.
6. Withdrawal of Six million, seven hundred and seventy thousand for a false trip to Accra, Ghana, with the Transition Chairman Pocketing the sum of Three million, five hundred and fourth two thousand naira while the HOLGS pockets three million, three hundred and ninety two thousand naira only.

Up next FEBRUARY, March, April, May and June 2024 accounts.