The Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct an independent probe into the funds so far received and disbursed to the 16 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the State, from May 2019 till date,
He also set up a Panel of Inquiry, comprising of members from various backgrounds to look into the Local Governments funds.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.
His words: “For the sake of accountability and transparency, the Governor is hereby calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct an urgent probe into funds so far received as allocations, and spent by the 16 Local Governments, between May 29 and now.
“Separately, the Governor will also be setting up a Panel of Inquiry in the immediate, to look into the same issues. Members of the Panel and its terms of reference, would be announced soon.”
Ajakaye added that the administration is of the view that Council funds should be probed and laid to rest, because governance is about public trust.
He noted that the investigation is necessary, following “outrageous claims by some persons that money to the tune of N300 million, was diverted monthly from LGAs accounts”.
“The Governor restated that he would not be found mismanaging or siphoning public funds. He maintains his stand, which dates back to his days in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), that the Local Governments should be allowed to manage their own funds with minimal or no supervision by the State, as the law may allow.
“He insists that any Official found to have diverted or mismanaged public funds under him, would be made to account for the same, as prescribed under the law”, Ajakaye added.