Delta Council Chairman Allegedly Misappropriates N23.7Billion, Forum Calls For Prosecution

Delta Council Chairman

 

 

OpenLife News reports that crisis is rocking Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State over allegations of financial misappropriation, with Chairman Julius Takeme accused of mismanaging over N23.7 billion allocated to the council from July 15, 2024 through the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.

Former chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also accused the chairman of financial recklessness and failure to deliver meaningful development.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by 7 leaders on behalf of 13 former PDP aspirants, the group alleged that about N3 billion had been expended on the construction of a new council secretariat and legislative complex, yet the projects were still at DPC level after two years.

Signatories include Hon. Jude Angodideke, Hon. Paul Oruma, Hon. Duncan Tamaradoubra Forcados, Chief Godspower Tomone, Hon. Chief Lucky Feizy Oweimieotu, Hon. Stephen Eniekezimene and Comrade Ozobo Austin.

Where Is The Money?

The aspirants said Burutu LGA had become the “worst hit by neglect and maladministration” despite receiving massive federal allocations.

They stated that N8.7 billion was earmarked for the council in the 2025 budget, while N15 billion was budgeted for 2026, “with little or no visible results.”

They also alleged that between July 15 and December 2024, a “huge but undisclosed amount” was spent under Takeme without budgeting.

“Despite the huge allocations, there are no visible projects, empowerment programmes, employment opportunities or basic infrastructure to justify the expenditure,” the statement reads.

The group threatened to petition the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the council’s finances.

“We are calling on all Burutu sons and daughters, leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups and civil society to force the imposed council chairman, Julius Takeme, to give a public account of how the 2024 allocation, N8.7 billion budget in 2025 and almost over half of the N15 billion budget of 2026 were spent.

“Where is the money? Our schools are still bad, with no teachers and seats. The communal roads are impassable, no water projects and youth empowerment. Flooding is ravaging our communities. Health centres have no drugs and staff. But allocations are coming in every month. This is unacceptable.”

Allegations Of One-Man Rule

The aspirants further alleged that Takeme withheld information on revenues received between July and December 2024, including statutory allocations, subsidy funds, IGR and excess crude revenue from Forcados Terminal.

They accused him of running a “one-man administration” and denying councillors access to council finances.“Burutu is a riverine LGA with peculiar challenges of flooding, lack of access roads and youth unemployment. Yet the man in charge has abandoned governance,” they said.

Call For Intervention

The group called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene and compel Takeme to “open the books of Burutu Council.”They also urged the Delta State House of Assembly to investigate the council’s finances from July 15, 2024 to 2026.

“We are planning a major political move that will shock the chairman and the APC. But before then, we are calling on Governor Oborevwori to urgently intervene,” they warned.

As at press time, Chairman Julius Takeme had not responded to the allegations.