Monday 2 September 2013

Fraud: Ikono legislators suspend council secretary - Set-up investigative committee - BY JOSEPH OKON

The legislative council of Ikono Local Government Area has suspended the council secretary, Mr. Ekan Asuquo Udo Ukpong for alleged fraudulent practice and incompetency, and has accordingly set-up an investigative committee to investigate the council secretary while declaring the office of the secretary vacant.

This was the fall-out of last week’s sitting of the council legislature that took place at the councilor’s chamber at council secretariat, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo.
The sitting which was presided by the leader of the legislature, Hon. Iboro Akpan Udo-Udo was well attended by the councilors.

Hon. Jonathan Umanah councilor representing Nkwot ward 6 drew the attention of the house to a petition against the council secretary from concerned citizens of Ikono Local Government Area.

He said that the petition is to test the credibility of the house and called on the legislators to resist any attempt by anybody to undermine the integrity of the legislatures as tooth-less legislators.

He maintained that the petition before the house against the council secretary is so weighty and is capable of tarnishing the credibility of the councilors and the entire council if not thoroughly investigated.

Hon. Umanah further said that it is a fraudulent practice and against the civil service rule which the secretary knows by not resigning or take a leave of absence when on political appointment but still collect salaries from the state government as a teacher in comprehensive secondary school Ndiya, Ikono Local Government and Ikono Local Government Council as secretary.
He said that with such fraudulent act, the council secretary cannot be trusted and is not fit to be the council secretary.

On his part, Hon Etop Umoidem described the situation as sad and unbecoming of a council secretary to get involved in defrauding the state government with millions and Ikono Local Government in particular by collecting salary in where he is not working.

He said that even the Holy Bible warns that people should not reap from where they did not sow, adding that the petition is very embarrassing not only to Ikono Local government but Akwa Ibom State and that such a fraudulent person is not fit to continue in office as the scribe of Ikono council.

Also speaking, Mr. George Etim Okon said that Mr. Ekan Udo Ukpong should be suspended immediately from office and investigation committee be set-up to investigate the alleged sharp practice of the council scribe and if found guilty must be punished according to the law.

He maintained that the incident is very sad and that the legislature must rise to the occasion to restore public confidence and trust on the credibility of the lawmakers.

The leader of the legislature, Mr. Iboro Akpan said that the action of the council secretary was so embarrassing to the council and in total contravention of the civil service rule.

After a long deliberation on the matter by all councilors present during the sitting, the legislature suspended the council secretary, Mr. Ekan Udo Ukpong from office. The leader of the legislature, Hon Iboro Akpan who announced the suspension directed the clerk of the legislature, Elder Sunday Ekot to communicate same to the council chairman Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong for immediate implementation. 

He also directed the clerk to communicate same to all the security operatives and to the suspended council secretary to immediately stop functioning again as secretary of Ikono Local Government Council and declared the office of the council secretary vacant.


The investigation committee to investigate the council secretary is headed by Hon. Etop Umoidem as chairman and other councilors are to serve as members. The committee was given two weeks to submit its report.

 When contacted the council secretary refused to send a reply to text messages sent to his phone and refused to pick several calls to his line.

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