The Lagos State House of Assembly led by Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has suspended Jelili Sulaimon, the Chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area, indefinitely.
During the plenary session on Monday, the lawmakers appointed the vice chairman, Akinpelu Johnson, to oversee the local government’s operations in the interim.
Additionally, the Assembly directed the council’s management, including the manager and treasurer, to acknowledge the vice chairman’s authority and provide him with the necessary support to ensure effective governance.
The decision to suspend the chairman was reached unanimously by the lawmakers due to allegations of non-compliance, defiance, and an uncooperative attitude towards the legislative body.
Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, introduced the motion for suspension, referencing an incident in April 2024 that resulted in chaos in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Alimosho Local Government, leading to the death of Micheal Ajayi.
Okanlawon, whose committee was tasked with investigating the incident, stated that evidence indicated Jelili was behind the unrest.
He noted that all relevant stakeholders were summoned, yet Jelili continued to exhibit misconduct towards the committee. Okanlawon emphasized the chairman’s disregard for the Assembly’s directives and his mismanagement of public resources, ultimately advocating for his immediate suspension in accordance with the applicable provisions of the amended 1999 Constitution.
“He should be suspended immediately while the vice chairman, Akin Johnson, takes over with immediate effect,” he prayed.
The 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 remarks, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts for Local Government, referenced the report presented by the State Auditor-General regarding the actions of Jelili.
The report highlighted the council chairman’s ongoing failure to adhere to financial regulations, revealing considerable irregularities in his financial documentation.
Akinsanya, drawing attention to these issues, endorsed Okanlawon’s request for the suspension of Jelili.
In a similar vein, Hon. Ladi Ajomale expressed astonishment at the council chairman’s obstinacy, particularly in light of prior reports outlining his purported financial mismanagement.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who oversaw the session, instructed the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to relay the Assembly’s resolution to all pertinent authorities.
