The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Mr Abdulahi Galadima, has cleared the air on alleged misappropriation of N173m Paris Club refund by the council.
A statement by the special assistant to the chairman on Media and Publicity, Mr Haruna Usman, in Abuja said that news making the rounds about the fund were mere speculations.
Usman quoted the chairman as saying that there were accusations and complains on social media from former political appointees that the Paris Club refund had been diverted by the council management.
He said that Galadima affirmed that he was properly guided by the council’s head of administration and treasurer on the implementation of the template as contained in the circular for the disbursement of the refunds.
“The disbursement was a collective decision between the council legislative arm and the executive chairman to pay 100 per cent to the present political office holders including the elected councilors.
“This was also to enable the council administration to settle outstanding liabilities by the former administration amounting to N 1.6billion.
“I therefore debunk the accusations and speculation that the head of administration and the council treasurer misappropriated the refunds.
“The council action to this effect is to ensure commitment and increase the attitudinal change in the present administration,” Galadima said.
According to the chairman, the council administration is committed to settling all the outstanding liabilities irrespective of political differences.
He said that N173m, released to FCT area councils by the FCT minister, was to settle the liabilities of both former and present political appointees.