HOS confirms Ikono chairman – Mma Otobong spent ₦491m without approval
The Head of Ikono Local Government Service has confirmed that council chairman Engr. Mrs Oto-Obong Okon Essien authorised expenditures totalling hundreds of millions of naira without required approvals, according to testimony before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The confirmation emerged during a hearing on Thursday at Luton Park Hotel in Uyo, where lawmakers are investigating allegations of financial misconduct against the chairman.
Recall that Ten of the council’s twelve elected councillors filed a petition on 27 January requesting the inquiry, citing breaches of the state’s Local Government Administration Law.
Mr Victor I. John, Head of Local Government Service for Ikono, told the assembly’s Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that unauthorised spending included 40 million naira on solar lighting, CCTV and ICT infrastructure; 10 million naira to a local football academy; 11 million naira on a non-functional transformer; and 440 million naira for an administrative block constructed without proper vouchers or budgetary clearance. An additional 10 million naira was spent refurbishing the chairman’s office.
Committee chairman Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung emphasised the investigation was “not meant to target anyone personally” but to examine whether financial procedures were followed. Under Nigerian law, local government chairpersons must obtain approval from elected councillors before committing public funds outside the approved budget.
Engr. Essien defended her actions during the session, stating most projects were executed through direct labour with the consent of the Finance and General Purpose Committee. She added she had acted under guidance from the Head of Local Government Service – a claim Mr John denied.
The hearing also addressed a separate petition from journalist Gideon Ekere, editor of The Post Newspaper, who alleged the council owes him and four colleagues more than one million naira for work completed over a year ago. The chairman denied the claim.
The session was adjourned without conclusion, with lawmakers indicating further hearings would be scheduled.
