The rifts between Governor Yahaya
Bello and his Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba, has taken a different dimension, with
the later giving the governor 7-day ultimatum to pay up his outstanding
allowances or risk legal suit.
Governor Bello is said to be
owing his deputy, accumulated allowances and other entitlements since 2017, to
the tune of N819,709,980.00.
A pre-action notice signed by
Femi Falani (SAN), on the instruction of Elder Achuba, is requesting for the
release of all statutory allocations due to the office of the deputy governor
but withheld since 2017.
The letter which was addressed to
governor Bello and dated 17th July 2019, said, the deputy governor’s office was
a creation of the 1999 constitution, with releases due to it signed into law by
the governor and state house of Assembly, pointing that, the State Governor has
refused to release the funds for the deputy governor’s office.
The letter was made available to
newsmen Tuesday night with the title, ‘Demand Notice: Request for the release
of all statutory allocations due to the office of the deputy governor of Kogi
State amounting to the total sum of N819,709,980.00 (Eight hundred and nineteen
million, seven hundred and nine thousand, nine hundred and eighty naira) only
for 2017, 2018 and 2019 memo approvals’.
“Our client has informed us that
your Excellency’s Administration has consistently refused to give approval for
the release of funds for the smooth running of the office of the Deputy
Governor even after memos to that effect have been approved by your office. In
particular, the statutory allocations approved for the office of the Deputy
Governor have been withheld by the State Government since 2017.
“The accumulated statutory
allocations the state government has withheld is N819, 709, 980. 00 (Eight
Hundred And Nineteen Million Seven Hundred And Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred And
Eighty Thousand Naira) which includes travel allowances. hotel bills. pledges
and outstanding monthly impress and salaries due to our client as the Deputy
Governor of Kogi State. These said statutory allocations are duly captured In
the Kogi State Appropriation Laws of 2017, 2018 and 2019 supported by various
memos sent your office since 2017 which were duly approved without cash backing
till date.
“Notwithstanding the fact that
the statutory allocations have been illegally withheld our client has continued
to carry out his functions as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. In as much as
our client is prepared to continue to discharge the enormous responsibilities
of his office, he is currently hampered by lack of funds which has wide-ranging
implications for the State even as It prepares for the forthcoming gubernatorial
election.
“In view of the foregoing, we
have our client’s instructions to request Your Excellency to use your good
offices to ensure the immediate payment of the withheld statutory allocations
legitimately appropriated for the office of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State
since 2017”, the letter reads in part.
The lawyers are threatening to
seek redress In the National Industrial Court, “if our client’s request is not
granted within seven days of the receipt of this letter”, saying they had the
Deputy Governor’s instructions to act as such.
“It Is hoped that Your Excellency
will not allow our client to resort to litigation In respect of this matter as
that may embarrass the Government of Kogi State,” the notice submitted.
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