Just In : Councillors Suspend Council Chairman For Alleged Gross Misconduct
The lingering crisis between the legislative and executive arms of Abeokuta North Local Government Area(LGA) took a worsening dimension on Wednesday with the LGA councillors slamming the elected Council Chairman, Hon. Ayorinde Abdul-Salam Adebayo, with a 3 – month suspension from office.
The councillors premised the suspension of the embattled LGA boss, Hon. Ayorinde Abdul-Salam Adebayo, on allegations of fraud, routine absenteeism from office and acts of obstructing the the legislative council from performing its statutory functions.
The resolute councillors who wrote the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly about the development, also identified the chairman ‘s other alleged infraction as “gross misconduct.”
Ayorinde’s suspension followed part of the resolutions reached by the Council’s legislators at the end of their plenary session at the Legislative Chamber of the local government earlier today.
In a “Notice Of Allegations Of Misconduct” duly signed by 10 Council Lawmakers from the four (4) communities in the Local Government Area, the council’s Executive Chairman was accused of commiting four punishable offences which also bothered on high handedness and fraud and thereby contravening Sections 209; 52 (c) and (i) of the Local Governments’ Law of Ogun State.
In the said notice, which was presented before the Abeokuta North Local Government’s House by Hon. Akinbami Mutiu, the Councillor representing ward 6, the Executive Chairman was said to have “surreptitiously sold” a 512 acres of land which is an asset of the Local Government to a privated estate company under the guise of Private Public Partnership arrangements without remitting the proceeds to the Council’s purse.
Ayorinde was also accused of bluntly refusing to carry out the needed repairs on the legislative bus to enable the lawmakers perform their oversight functions in the last 22 months.
They also claimed that the chairman refused to provide electricity generating set for the legislative arm of the council to enable it function effectively.
“Zero budget allocation to the office of the House Leader; zero level of accountability and transparency by not rendering to the Council for consideration and debate, monthly statements of income and expenditures as stipulated by Section 52 (c) of the Local Governments’Law of Ogun State,” the resolution reads in part.
The 3-months suspension slammed on Ayorinde by the lawmakers however, followed a motion moved by the lawmakers representing Ward 6, Hon. Akinbami Abiodun Mutiu, after which the entire lawmakers had passed a “Vote of No Confidence” on the chairman, consequent upon a voice vote conducted by the House Leader, Hon. Sikiru Sanni.
“Inspite of the above notice of misconduct, I urge this honorable House to speedily transmit a copy of this notice to the appropriate quarters including the office of Mr. Governor for a fair and equitable process of impeachment as enshrined in Section 37 (subsection 1-11) of the local government law of ogun State.
Consequently, the legislators ordered that the chairman hands over all the council’s property at his possession to Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. Ayoola Oluajo forthwith.
The lawmakers however, forwarded copies of their resolutions at the sitting to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly (OGHA), Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo and heads of all the security agencies.
