The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday indefinitely suspended Jelili Sulaimon, Chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area, over allegations of misconduct.
According to a statement by Eromosele Ebhomele, spokesperson for the Assembly Speaker, the suspension takes effect immediately.
Ebhomele noted that during the plenary session, lawmakers resolved that the council’s vice chairman, Akinpelu Johnson, should assume control of local government affairs.
The House also directed the council’s management, including the manager and treasurer, to recognize Johnson’s authority and provide him with the necessary support to perform his duties effectively.
The suspension of Sulaimon followed a unanimous vote by the lawmakers, citing his non-compliance, defiance, and uncooperative behavior toward the Assembly.
In a motion for the suspension, Sanni Okanlawon, Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, recounted that in April 2024, a disturbance in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Alimosho resulted in the death of one Micheal Ajayi.
Okanlawon, whose committee was tasked with investigating the incident, revealed that Sulaimon was found to have orchestrated the chaos. Despite invitations from the committee, Sulaimon continued to display misconduct.
Okanlawon further cited Sulaimon’s failure to comply with the Assembly’s directives and his mismanagement of public funds, calling for his immediate suspension in accordance 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 misconducts from him and I support that the chairman be suspended indefinitely,” he said.
In his contribution 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.
Akinsanya, emphasising these discrepancies, suported Okanlawon’s call for Jelili’s suspension.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to communicate the Assembly’s resolution to all relevant authorities.