The embattled chairman of Shiroro local government area of Niger state, Suleiman Chukuba has said that he has not been impeached or suspended insisting that he remains the chairman of the local government council.
Chukuba who spoke to newsmen in Kuta however did not say the role played by the members of the House of Assembly in ensuring he remained in office.
The Chairman who confirmed the meeting between the councilors, the legislators and himself did not give details of the meeting but stated that he has not been removed from office.
It could be recalled that on Tuesday, 11 out of 14 elected councillors in the council collected signatures to impeach the chairman.
However, after an intervention meeting with the Niger state house of Assembly on Tuesday, the impeachment notice was suspended by the councillors.
Chukuba, who was seen in office on Wednesday said that the plot to impeach him by the councillors was not successful because they did not follow due process.
“Regarding the suspension, I am still waiting for it. You can see that I am in the office and that means I am still the chairman of this council”.
He also debunked the corruption allegations leveled against him saying that the councillors were not factual in their allegations.
Chukuba stated that he has not misappropriated funds.
“The Council is bedeviled by insecurity and has not been making IGR in the past seven years. So where is the IGR to misappropriate or embezzle?
“We are not generated any IGR in the Council. There is no atmosphere in Shiroro that is conducive for markets to operate, hence no means of generating IGR.”
Speaking on the alleged N7 million misappropriation of funds for workshop, the chairman explained that when the approval was given, there was no cash backing.
He however added that when the council finally got money to organize the workshop, the councillors refused to attend.
“On the 28th of this month, the councillors were supposed to hold the workshop. Everything was on ground. But on the day of the workshop, they decided they will not attend the workshop and without reason”, he explained.
