The Lagos State House of Assembly has been criticised for indefinitely suspending the Chairman of the Alimosho Local Government Area, Jelili Sulaimon, on Monday.
The legislative arm undertook the action and resolved that the Vice Chairman of the council, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson, should take over the running of its affairs.
However, reacting to his suspension, Jelili said he was not given a chance nor invited to defend himself of the charges.
He told a newspaper that suspending a government official could only be done if due process was followed.
Similarly, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), contested the sanction imposed on the council boss, saying it violated the principle of separation of powers in the Nigerian Constitution.
CPA’ Tobi Johnson wrote, in a statement titled: “SUSPENSION OF ALIMOSHO LG CHAIRMAN: The Lagos Assembly of illegality!”
The statement said: “It is not the business of the Lagos State House of Assembly, to suspend a democratically elected Chairman of another Level of Government. Can the National Assembly, Suspend the Governor of Lagos State?
“Parliamentary Resolutions have no force of Law, at best they are advisory.
“There is a pending suit in court, and the Speaker is aware therefore he is resorting to self help.
“The Lagos Assembly Law is vexatious, illegal, unconstitutional, arbitrary a breach of the Supreme Court recent decision with respect to Local Government Autonomy.
“The suspension is a slap on President Tinubu’s resolve to ensure strict compliance with the Constitution in respect of Local Government Autonomy, functions and powers.
“It’s a betrayal of Lagos State government and its people who are usually law abiding!
“This is Legislative violence at best.
“No doubt, Speaker Obasa is bent on inflicting a chaos and anarchy on Alimosho local government and Lagos state for selfish political reasons.
“ALGON Lagos State, should issue a statement to support the suit of the chairman, against the House of Assembly.
“Enough is Enough, Obasa House of Assembly, is overreaching its Limit.”
Moving a motion for Sulaimon’s suspension, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sanni Okanlawon, recalled that in April 2024, pandemonium broke out in the Iyana-Ipaja area of the Alimosho Local Government Area, resulting in the death of one Michael Ajayi.
Okanlawon, whose committee was assigned to investigate the cause of the pandemonium, alleged that Sulaimon masterminded the chaos.
