The Kogi State Government has vehemently dismissed allegations of systematic diversion of local government funds through the so-called “Lokoja Voucher Scheme,” describing the claims as baseless, malicious and politically motivated.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the petition recently submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by three civil society organisations was a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of Governor Usman Ododo and distract from the administration’s achievements.
“Not a single kobo of local government allocation is touched by the state government,” Fanwo declared, insisting that Kogi operates one of the most transparent local council financial systems in Nigeria.
He explained that councils in the state receive 100 per cent of their statutory allocations directly from the Federation Account and enjoy full autonomy to determine their expenditures, contracts, payrolls and development projects in strict compliance with the Constitution.
The commissioner described the petition as “a recycled script from known political adversaries who are uncomfortable with the rising profile of Governor Ododo and the unprecedented development in Kogi State.”
Last week, the African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) and Concerned Kogi State Citizens jointly petitioned the EFCC, alleging massive looting of council funds through fabricated vouchers and fictitious contracts awarded to shell companies allegedly owned by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).
The November 18 petition accused the state of:
Compelling local council officials to sign documents without Bills of Quantity, tender processes or site verification
Processing fraudulent monthly vouchers that drain funds before they reach communities
Re-looting 95 per cent of the Local Government Service Commission’s statutory one per cent allocation through non-tendered contracts
The groups demanded a comprehensive forensic audit of all 21 local government accounts from January 2024, prosecution of implicated officials and PEPs, recovery of allegedly diverted funds, and far-reaching reforms to protect council autonomy.
Fanwo, however, urged the EFCC and the public to disregard what he called “fabricated lies,” stating that the state government remains open to any genuine investigation and is proud of its transparent financial management record.
He added that the Ododo administration will continue to prioritise grassroots development and will not be distracted by “politically sponsored blackmail.”As of press time, the EFCC has neither confirmed receipt of the petition nor announced any investigation into the allegations.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com