EDO COUNCIL IN N200M DEBT

The Acting Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government in Edo State, Deacon Newman Ugiagbe has put the total indebtedness of the council at over N200m.

He stated that the debt included loans from banks and salaries arrears of workers of the local council.

Ugiagbe was sworn-in as the acting chairman of the council after Governor Adams Oshiomhole suspended the council boss, Mr. Patrick Asien, over alleged graft.

The Local Government at a press briefing in Benin disclosed that 16 projects approved by Oshiomhole to the tune of N72m were never executed by the suspended council boss and the funds were not found in the council's account.

He, however, said he had been able to pay the over N200m debt owned by the local council.

Ugiagbe dismissed allegations that the state government was releasing funds to the council because he defected to the Action Congress.

He said the construction of Abudu central road of which N98m was released and the project not executed was the reason the state government withheld further release of funds to his suspended predecessor.

But when contacted on the matter on Wednesday, the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Victor Enoghama, told our correspondent on telephone, that, 'I am not aware of such amount and the acting chairman has not reported to me on the development.'