Details have emerged of the move by the Lagos State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The house which accused Ambode of gross misconduct also summoned him to appear before it within one week for failing to formally present the 2019 Budget before it.
Though Ambode had sent the budget to the house since December, the lawmakers insist he must properly hand it over to them before they can deliberate on it.
The lawmakers condemned the governor with claims that the executive is already spending the budget without the assembly’s approval.
The speaker ofbthebhosue, Mudashiru Obasanjo said:
“The Attorney General, Finance Commissioner and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, that ought to have advised the governor did not do so.
“The most important thing is that we should let the people know that a budget that was yet to be approved is being spent.
“We must give the executive a fair hearing to come and explain what happened.
“The point has been made that there must be something before the House before you can commence expenditure.
“We want to call on the Governor to come within a week to explain himself along with the relevant commissioners.
“We can’t start gathering signatures for impeachment. We need to exercise patience and wait till another time,” the Speaker said.
Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, Chairman House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, said:
“We had issues of virement and monies being spent without approval. We had cases of items that were not budgeted for being carried out, it shows the executive rewrite the budget at will.
“The Constitution states that the State House of Assembly must approve all expenditures.
“We should begin an impeachment process if the executive does not retrace its steps,” Yishawu said.
The lawmskers went on to criticize Ambode for alleged flagrant disobedient to the constitution and financial misconduct, all of which they say are impeachable offences.
They advised him to resign or face impeachment as plensru was adjourned till February 4.
