In a startling revelation, the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, Taofiq Isah, is accused of auctioning properties worth millions just weeks before the end of his tenure. Arewa PUNCH investigations expose the sale of government assets, including vehicles, typewriters, and agricultural equipment, allegedly to counter financial challenges resulting from the recent freezing of state and local government accounts by Governor Alhaji Yayaha Bello.
Reportedly, the auctioned items encompassed diverse assets such as Toyota vehicles, buses, tractors, and various household items. A source disclosed that the Local Government Secretariat now stands empty, with crucial assets, including tractors aimed at boosting farming, allegedly sold at questionable amounts.
The alleged auction activities, reportedly conducted in collaboration with an auctioneer named Salawu Onimisi, have sparked outrage. Concerns about transparency, accountability, and the absence of due process in the auction process have been raised, with a staff member urging Governor Bello to intervene, dissolve the process, and demand a refund of collected funds.
The staff member claimed that no Local Government staff benefited from the auction, emphasizing the potential devastation if the process continues unchecked. The source also questioned the ethics of selling a significant portion of government property allegedly to the Chairman himself through proxies.
Chairman Taofiq Isah defended the auction, asserting that the items sold were moribund and held little economic value for the council. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant for Media and Publicity, Othman Hamidu, Isah argued that the sale was handled by a professional and reputable auctioneer. The statement highlighted the chairman’s purported efforts in infrastructure development and community welfare during his seven-year tenure.
As accusations and counterclaims continue, the controversy surrounding the alleged auction scandal raises concerns about governance ethics and financial transparency in the local government.
