Enugu Councillor Suspended For Allegedly Stealing Funds For Internally Displaced Persons

The councillor representing Umualor Ward in Isi-Uzo Legislative Council, Enugu State, Maxwell Aluagbo, has been suspended.

He was suspended for allegedly embezzling funds provided for the purchase of relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in his community.

SaharaReporters reports that Aluagbo was accused of embezzling funds amounting to N1.1 million meant for palliatives and relief materials for Internally Displaced Persons from Eha-Amufu, who ran to his community when armed men suspected to be herders invaded and sacked villages during former President Muhammadu Buhari's regime.

Isi-Uzo Legislative Council announced Aluagbo’s suspension on Thursday, during plenary after considering a series of petitions sent to the lawmakers by Umualor community, demanding an urgent investigation, recovery and subsequent disbursement of the fund to the beneficiaries.

Moving a motion for the suspension, the Majority Leader of the House and member representing Neke Ward II, Mr Nnabuike Ugwu, expressed worry that the N1.1 million palliative fund released to IDPs in Umualor community had not got to them months after the disbursement, and called for proper investigation.

Ugwu also accused Aluagbo of disclosing issues discussed by the legislators in close-door meetings to outsiders which he said attracts indefinite suspension, citing their House Rule number 3 “e” of the Isi-Uzo Legislative Council to support their claim.

The councillor representing Ehamufu- Ward I, Mr John Nwodo seconded the motion and frowned on the alleged misconduct of Mr Aluagbo, noting that they were elected to serve the people and not to worsen their difficult situation.

Pronouncing the suspension, the leader of the Isi-Uzo Legislative Council, Mr Renus Anene Nnaji described the allegations levelled against the embattled councillor as unfortunate.

He said they would continue to ensure that the people got the desired democracy dividends due to them.

He subsequently constituted a three-man committee to investigate the allegations and report back to the House in no distant time, insisting that transparency and accountability must remain their watchwords.

Members of the Committee are Chidozie Ogbu, Chairman; Mr Emma Nnamani, Secretary and Mr Cyril Olinya, Member.

Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to get Aluagbo’s reaction to the suspension were unsuccessful as his mobile phone line “was not reachable”.

However, there is a rumour that the lawmaker was suspended because he supported the candidate of the Labour Party during the March 18 governorship election in the state.