THE Ethics/Privileges/Public Service/Judiciary Committee of Kwara State House of Assembly has cleared the speaker of the House, Honourable Abdulrazaq Atunwa, of allegations of financial impropriety levelled against him by the chief whip, Honourable Ilyasu Ibrahim.

Honourable Ibrahim, representing Owode Onirin, Ipaye-Oloru constituency in the state, had last week in a petition submitted to the assembly accused the speaker of financial impropriety.

The assembly consequently directed the ethics and privileges committee to investigate the allegations.

Speaking with journalists after the committee had submitted its report to the assembly, on Thursday, the chairman of the committee, Honourable Kamal Fagbemi, said the allegations were unfounded and baseless.

"The speaker of the assembly was not involved in any financial recklessness as provided by the petitioner. All the documents tendered by Honourable Ibrahim to the committee were not signed and have no substantial facts on the allegations," he said.

Honourable Fagbemi also advised members of the assembly to always shun any act that might likely affect the image of the legislative house and its leadership.

Also speaking, the speaker said that being cleared of financial impropriety by the ethics and privileges committee of the assembly was a vindication of his integrity since he joined public office in Kwara State.

"I have never been and will never engage in any financial dishonesty or financial misconduct. I am a qualified Barrister of England and Wales of 18 years standing and I practiced law successfully at the highest level," he said.

The speaker, who said that he was not motivated by money or pecuniary trappings, added that he was first appointed as commissioner in the state at the age of 35.