A panel set up to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Kogi State Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba, has commenced its hearing in Lokoja.

The Secretary to the Kogi State Government (SSG), Mrs Folashade Ayoade-Arike, on Monday entered the witness box to testify at the panel hearing, investigating the allegations on the deputy governor.

The SSG said the Deputy Governor last attended the state Exco meeting in August 2018 even when the state government was up to date with his salaries and other benefits.

Others that testified included the Acting Director (Treasury), Office of the Accountant General, Mr. Elijah Ebinemi, who presented before the panel, evidence of alleged salaries/allowances payment, to the embattled deputy governor.

The certified true copies of the said payment were said to have covered between 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The SSG under cross-examination by lead counsel to Achuba, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), among others alleged that the state deputy governor last turned up at the weekly state executive council meeting, in August 2018.

She also said she was incompetent to issue a query to the deputy governor, as he is her boss.

The SSG stated that while it is not under the schedule of the Office of the SSG to pay the salary of the deputy governor, all workers of the state, including the deputy governor and his aides, have however been paid “up-to-date”.

Also, Under cross-examination by Mr. Anthony Adeniyi, lead counsel to the state government, Itopa, the cashier in the office of the deputy governor, explained that allowances and other monies, including imprests are paid directly into the bank accounts of those concerned.

It is important to know that the committee has two months to conclude its investigation on the Deputy Governor.

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