Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday suspended Jelili Sulaimon, the chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, indefinitely with immediate effect over alleged gross misconduct.
The Lawmakers who decided at their plenary sitting resolved that the vice chairman of the council, Mr Akinpelu Johnson, should take over the running of its affairs.
The House further instructed the council’s management, including the manager and treasurer, to recognise the vice chairman’s authority and accord him all the support necessary for his effective work.
It was further gathered that the suspended council boss in a unanimous vote by the lawmakers over an alleged non-compliance, defiance and unyielding attitude to the legislature.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, moved a motion for his suspension. He recalled that in April 2024, pandemonium broke out in the Iyana-Ipaja axis of Alimosho Local Government, leading to the death of Mr. Michael Ajayi.
Okanlawon, whose committee was saddled with the responsibility to investigate the cause of the pandemonium, said that it was discovered that Jelili masterminded the chaos.
He said all stakeholders involved in the issue were invited, but Jelili had continued to show acts of misconduct to the House committee.
He highlighted the council chairman’s failure to adhere to the Assembly’s directives and his mismanagement of public funds. He, therefore, called for Jelili’s immediate suspension in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“He should be suspended immediately while the vice chairman, Akin Johnson, takes over with immediate effect,” he prayed.
While supporting the call for Jelili’s suspension, House Majority Leader Noheem Adams added that the action would please other local government chairmen.
On a larger scale, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh urged the House to invite Mr. Kolade Alabi and Mr. Rasak Ajala, chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Odi Olowo LCDA respectively, as heads of the Conference 57, to explain the widespread disregard by council chairmen for governance protocols.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, to communicate the Assembly’s resolution to all relevant authorities.
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