February 19th 2025.
On February 18th, Mayor Kobi, who was previously known as Mayor Khalid, was granted permission to return to South Fulton County government property. However, there are certain restrictions in place. As per a press release, Kobi is allowed to enter government buildings, including his office. However, his access will not be fully reinstated.
After consulting with the city attorney, Mayor Kobi has been informed that he will no longer have access to a city-issued vehicle and is prohibited from reviewing the South Fulton budget. In fact, the Fulton County Police Department even released bodycam footage showing the mayor being escorted off government property.
One of the officers can be heard saying, "Mayor, I've been instructed not to allow you in your office and also, you aren't permitted to operate a city vehicle...this directive came directly from the City Manager and the chief." It was a tough blow for Kobi, who later sat down for an interview with V-103 radio host Big Tigger to share his side of the story.
"They took my keys. They kicked me out of my office. They kicked my staff out of my office. They took my car," Kobi lamented during the interview. The mayor's troubles began in January 2025 when he was accused of using county funds to finance a 21-day vacation to Ghana. However, Kobi insists that the situation is a misunderstanding.
During the interview, he expressed his belief that a financial audit of the county credit card would prove his innocence. He also claims that he relied on the generosity of friends for his lodging while abroad. "First of all, it's not $26,000. The total amount includes travel over two years, and they have done a forensic audit on my card. However, the same has not been done for other individuals who have also traveled internationally," Kobi explained.
He went on to clarify that some of the expenses were personal, and he even turned down per diem payments. "I never stayed one night in a hotel during the entire 21 days. I stayed in people's houses, with friends. My 21 days in Ghana amounted to about $7,000," Kobi added. As of now, an investigation is still ongoing into the mayor's alleged misuse of government funds.
The incident has caused quite a stir, with some even calling it a "city council smackdown." The power struggle between the mayor and the council has left Kobi without key resources and privileges, including his budget and city-issued toys. Only time will tell how this situation will unfold.
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