The Lagos State House of Assembly has indefinitely suspended the chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area, Jelili Sulaimon, due to alleged misconduct.
The suspension took effect immediately, and the assembly decided that the vice chairman, Mr Akinpelu Johnson, should take over the management of the council’s affairs.
The House has also instructed the council’s management, including the manager and treasurer, to recognize the authority of the vice chairman and provide him with the necessary support to carry out his duties effectively.
Sulaimon’s suspension was a unanimous decision by the lawmakers, who cited his non-compliance, defiance, and unyielding attitude towards the legislative House.
He highlighted the council chairman’s failure to adhere to the Assembly’s directives and his mismanagement of public funds
Okanlawon, 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.
Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, while supporting the call for Jelili’s suspension, added that the action would make other local government chairmen sit well.
“The Alimosho council chairman does not follow procurement processes or the budget. There has been a lot of misconduct from him and I support that the chairman be suspended indefinitely,” he said.
Nureni Akinsanya, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts for Local Government, referred to a report submitted by the State Auditor-General regarding the activities of Jelili, the council chairman.
The report highlighted Jelili’s consistent non-compliance with financial regulations and significant irregularities in his records. Akinsanya emphasized these discrepancies and supported the call for Jelili’s suspension.
Similarly, Ladi Ajomale expressed surprise that the council chairman had been unresponsive despite previous reports detailing his alleged financial mismanagement.
Sa’ad Olumoh echoed these concerns and also requested that the House invite the chairmen of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Odi Olowo LCDA, who are part of the Conference 57, to explain the widespread disregard by council chairmen for governance protocols.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to communicate the Assembly’s resolution to all relevant authorities.
