The Legislative Arm of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has passed a ‘vote of no confidence’ on the Council Chairman, Hon. Shehu Bala for alleged gross financial misconduct and impunity.
The Councillors accused the Council chairman of running the local government Council as his personal business.
The Councillors, Friday passed the vote of no confidence during its sitting at the Legislative Chamber in Jos, which snowballed in to violence.
It was learnt that two of the Councillors who were not in support of the impeachment move quickly organized thugs who invaded the legislative chamber and inflicted injuries on the legislators and Journalists.
The thugs also smashed a camera belonging to Aris TV, mobile phones and cart away valuable gadgets belonging to the Journalists.
Councilor representing Vendepuye, Grace Laraba Vendepuye who briefed Journalists, said a ‘Vote of no confidence’ has been passed on the Chairman, Hon. Shehu Bala and would be served with an impeachment notice.
She explained that the Chairman has been running the local government together with his cronies as their personal business.
“We wish to inform the public that the entire Councilors in Jos North Local Government Area have passed a ‘Vote of no Confidence’ on the Executive Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, Hon. Shehu Bala and would be served with an impeachment notice.
“We set up a committee which reached out to those concern with the collection of revenue in Jos North, a notice was given to them to appear before the committee with receipt of revenue collected in the local government.
“Prior to this, things have being going on very bad, the local government was run as a one man show and the Legislative Arm was regarded as nothing but we got on to our responsibility and got facts with documents that led to the passage of ‘Vote of no confidence on the Chairman.”
Also, Councilor representing Jenta Apata ward, Hon Micheal Emeto expressed dismay over the attitude of the Council Chairman, saying the Local Government approved N8 million for purchase of computers for local government staff but over N2.5 million has been withdrawn without remitting it to the contractor.
However, the impeachment notice served on Hon. Shehu Bala and obtained by our reporter reads, “We the undersigned members of Jos North Local Government Legislative Council of Plateau State, having satisfied the requirement of the Law by collecting 2/3 signatories, wish to serve on the Executive Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, Hon. Shehu Bala Usman, this notice of impeachment.
“Having found him to have committed gross misconduct and abuse of his oath of allegiance and oath of office through corruption and embezzlement of public funds of the Local Government Council as.
“Hon. Shehu Bala Usman severally awarded contracts without due process as provided by law amongst which includes, “the Jenta Adamu 3km road construction; new Market road 1.5km, Yan Ganda-Rikkos 1.5km road project; purchase and rehabilitation of pediatric hospital, Fudawa; supply and installations of transformers at Exorbitant prices and several other projects”.
