A whopping sum of N4 billion naira was reportedly borrowed under the administration of former governor AbdFatah Ahmed of Kwara State to offset two months salaries and pensions of local government workers in 2018.
This disclosure was made by a Council Accountant, Mr Emmanuel Audu at a sitting organised today in Ilorin by the Retired Justice Mathew Adewara-led panel of inquiry, charged with investigating the allegation of diversion of N300 million naira local governments funds.
According to Audu, the state government in 2018 took a loan of N4bn from a commercial bank to pay two months salaries and pensions of local government workers and SUBEB teachers.
He added that the loan has been fully paid back by the 16 local governments under the watch of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as at December 2019.
Speaking further, Audu noted that another N1.6bn loan took on behalf of the LGs by the past administration in the state would be fully paid by August 2022.
At the sitting, the panel received briefings from the Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) and their Accountants from Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West Local Government Areas, with all stating that there was no record of diversion of local governments funds.
In his remark, the chairman of the panel Justice Mathew Adewara clarified that the commission was on a fact finding mission into the allegation of diversion of funds of the 16 local government areas of the state between May, 2019 and July 2020 and not to probe any personality.
“We are not prosecuting you. We are to investigate the alleged diversion of N300m from Local government funds. We will do our jobs based on the terms of references given to us.”
The Ravens learnt that the hearing continues with local government councils in Kwara South on Friday.