Delta LG boss denies squandering N25m

CHAIRMAN of Ughelli South Local Government Transition Committee, Delta State, Chief Oviri Uto, has denied squandering N25 million belonging to the council.

Addressing newsmen, following a petition against him by some persons under the aegis of Movement for Good Governance, to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, alleging that Uto squandered the council’s fund to the tune of N25 million, he said the allegation was frivolous and false.

Urging members of the public to disregard the petition in its entirety, he described those behind the petition as blackmailers, who were out to siphon government fund through blackmail.

He said: “I never spent such amount of money on what the group claimed. All I had spent since I assumed office are well documented and there is no time I sent N5 million to the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker for tenure extension and I never gave N5 million to the governor for his marriage anniversary.

“On the N5 million they said I spent on environmental sanitation, the said sanitation was not held on January 26, but rather, it was held on three days, that is 23, 24, and 25 of January, before the visit of the First Lady of the state on January 26, 2013. The N5 million was spent on the three days exercise.”