Benue State House of Assembly, presided over by Speaker Hyacinth Dajo, has summoned Dr Dennis Akura, former special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Dr Akura is slated to appear in plenary on Tuesday to explain and return the N1.78 billion that went unaccounted for during his stint at the agency.
Following the presentation of the ad hoc committee’s report, Mr. Thomas Dugeri (APC, Kwande West) moved for this resolution. The committee looked into the operations and financial records of local governments from June 2023 to June 2024, and its findings implicated Dr Akura.
Dugeri added that the House requested that Dr Akura repay N1.782 billion to the state government’s funds. He voiced worry over Akura’s social media replies, which he claimed denigrated, insulted, and undermined the House’s resolutions and integrity. Akura allegedly criticized the House report for missing scientific data and said he was not given a fair hearing.
Dugeri emphasized that, as representatives of the people and a responsible legislative body dedicated to fairness, transparency, equity, and justice, the House must hear from Akura. He asked special adviser Akura to appear before legislators and explain to the people of Benue why he has not restored the N1.78 billion that was allegedly looted and transferred from local governments for security reasons, jeopardizing the state’s security framework.
The lawmaker went on to urge that all past local government chairman who served between June 2023 and June 2024 testify before the House. They were to be accompanied by the directors of general services and administration, treasurers, and security personnel from their various municipalities. This action, he added, would allow the people of Benue to verify the committee’s conclusions.
Dugeri warned government personnel against insulting members of the House or making unsubstantiated charges as the House does its constitutional obligations on behalf of the people of Benue.
The Assembly also emphasized the necessity of amending the Local Government Law in view of the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the financial autonomy of local governments. In order to limit the authority and excesses of the Bureau for Local Government and to encourage local governments’ financial independence, they called for the start and quickening of this change.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
