Court Orders Offa LG To Pay Debt Incurred By Saheed Popoola After 9 Years

An Offa Magistrate Court judgement delivered by Magistrate Gambari has brought to the open how former Offa LG Chairman and member representing Ojomu Balogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Popoola ran the council’s treasury into debt during his tenure as chairman between ,2011 and 2013.

The Offa born politician was reported to have awarded a contract worth N12 million to Engr. Oridadegun Agboworin, an offa based contractor, and failed to complete payment upon the completion of the project.

Findings by The Fidelinfonews revealed that the ex-council paid N7.2 million to the contractor,and withheld the balance, with all efforts by the contractor to get payment for work done proving abortive, and the money became a burden on subsequent council chairmen.

The contractor had approached the court of competent jurisdiction in February 2019 to seek redress and also effect payment of his due through his legal representative, Ibrahim Sharafadeen.

While passing judgement on the matter, the magistrate ordered the debt paid to the contractor with an additional 5 percent as compensation.

While addressing newsmen after the judgement, counsel to the plaintiff noted that “The judgement has shown that justice will always be served no matter how long it takes. The Magistrate has done thorough work and judgement has been served, because, there is no doubt, contract was awarded to my client and he performed it.

“They entered into agreement but the local government failed to honour its obligation by paying what is due to my client. Statutorily, the council has one month to file an appeal, and after this, we can move ahead to enforce the judgement.” he added.

FidelinfoNews