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The Lagos State House of Assembly has suspended Jelili Sulaimon, the Chairperson of Alimosho Local Government Area, over allegations of misconduct and non-compliance.
The suspension, which took immediate effect, was announced during a plenary session on Monday, October 7.
In a unanimous vote, the lawmakers agreed that Akinpelu Johnson, the vice chairman, would assume responsibility for overseeing the council’s affairs in Sulaimon’s absence. The House also directed the council’s management, including the manager and treasurer, to fully support Johnson in his new role.
The motion for suspension was raised by Sanni Okanlawon, chairperson of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs. Okanlawon cited sections of the 1999 Constitution in his call for Sulaimon’s immediate suspension, accusing the local government chair of defiance and a persistent unwillingness to comply with legislative orders.
“He should be suspended immediately while the vice chairman, Akin Johnson, takes over with immediate effect,” Okanlawon urged during the session.
Okanlawon also recalled the April 2024 unrest in Iyana-Ipaja, which resulted in the death of a man named Michael Ajayi. Investigations by his committee revealed that Sulaimon had allegedly instigated the chaos. Despite multiple invitations, the suspended chairperson allegedly continued to display acts of misconduct and failed to cooperate with the assembly’s investigations.
The Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, supported the motion, stating that Sulaimon’s suspension would serve as a warning to other local government chairpersons to adhere to proper governance.
“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,” Adams remarked.
Additionally, Nureni Akinsanya, Chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts for Local Government, highlighted irregularities in Sulaimon’s financial management, which were revealed in a report by the State Auditor-General.
Other lawmakers, including Ladi Ajomale, expressed frustration at Sulaimon’s repeated disregard for previous reports of financial mismanagement. Ajomale noted the council chairman’s recalcitrant behaviour despite clear warnings.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the clerk of the assembly, Olalekan Onafeko, to officially communicate the House’s resolution to all relevant authorities.
