The chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area, Jelili Sulaimon has been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect by the Lagos House of Assembly.
Jelili was suspended on Monday at plenary following a crisis that happened at the council which claimed the life of one Micheal Ajayi in April 2024.
The Vice Chairman, Akinpelu Johnson,
was instructed to take over the running of the council while other council officers such as the manager and treasurer were also instructed to give the Vice Chairman full support.
The motion for the suspension of the chairman was moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon and unanimously supported by all House members.
The chairman was suspended by the lawmakers over an alleged non-compliance, defiance and unyielding attitude to the legislative House as he refused to appear before the House following the crisis.
Hon. Okanlawon told the House that the committee that investigated the crisis discovered that Jelili was behind the chaos and mismanaged the council’s fund.
“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.
In his contribution Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts for Local Government, referred to the report submitted by the State Auditor-General concerning the activities of Jelili. The report underscored the council chairman’s consistent non-compliance with financial regulations, with significant irregularities in his records.
Similarly, Hon. Ladi Ajomale expressed surprise that the council chairman had been recalcitrant despite previous reports detailing his alleged financial mismanagement.
Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, while echoing his concerns, also prayed the House to invite Mr. Kolade Alabi and Mr. Rasak Ajala, chairmen of Bariga 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. (Dr) 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.
