IKOSI-ISHERI LCDA LEADER OF THE HOUSE, DEPUTY DENOUNCE SUSPENSION BY FOUR COUNCILLORS

* say purported suspension farcical, histrionic and unconstitutional

*Chief Whip accuse chairperson of fuelling crisis to frustrate fraud probe   

 

By Olusegun Apena

The Ikosi-Isheri LCDA leader of the house Hon. Akanni Usman Ajibola and the Deputy leader of the House Hon. Folasade Akinpelu have come out boldly to denounce their purported suspension from the legislative arm by four councillors loyal to the council chairperson Princess Samiat Bada, describing the act as farcical, histrionic and unconstitutional.

The leader of the House, Hon. Usman Ajibola in an interview with Kosofe Reporters described his purported suspension from the legislative council by four councillors as an act that smacked of histrionic display of “Baba Suwe” and “Awada Kerikeri” Yoruba Comedy.

He said the action of the four councillors, Yinusa Salami, Majority leader, Adewale Olalekan, Biliameen Taliatu and Olanrewaju Taiwo to suspend him would not see the light of the day as it did not follow the normal process and was therefore totally unconstitutional.

He stressed that as the leader of the House, he possesses the constitutionally right to write letter to the Bank to stop payment of cheques after discovering fraudulent malpractices in the accounts of the council with the bank.

As reported by Kosofe Reporters, Hon. Usman revealed that the council treasurer, Mrs. Sobowale, during interrogation when summoned on March 11 had revealed that she was only aware of UBA and Access accounts of the council.

He also disclosed that the Majority leader made an unsuccessful attempt to hoodwink the Polaris Bank management to disregard his letter by writing another letter to the bank, adding that after failing in that attempt, they then came up with a trumped-up allegation of gross misconduct.

He explained further that the four councillors also intentionally boycotted the plenary of the legislative council when it sat and interrogated the council treasurer Mrs. Yemisi Sobowale and council engineer Mrs. Effeyota Victoria contrary to the claim made by the four councillors in their petition.

He added that it was the house committee on finance that actually summoned the council treasurer, the council engineer and the special adviser for works and infrastructures and that the committee is chaired by the chief whip Hon. Muhammed moruff Adeleye.

In the same vein the deputy leader of the House, Hon. Folasade Akinpelu described her suspension as “a joke of the day which was dead on arrival just like the Kangaroo impeachment meted out on her last year.”

She stated that the process leading to their purported suspension was flawed as the majority leader who was said to have summoned emergency plenary through a personally sign letter does not have the right to do so.

She averred that it is only the clerk of the house that can summon a plenary base on the order of the leader of the house.

She disclosed that the leader of the house had been in the council long before the fake news of their purported suspension filtered in. And that when he arrived, he looked for the clerk and was nowhere to be found.

But the chief whip of the house Hon. Muhammed Moruff Adeleye told Kosofe Reporters that the council Chairperson Princess Samiat Bolanle Bada was the person behind the council’s legislative arm crisis.

He accused the council chairperson of fighting tool and nail to frustrate the ongoing investigation being carried out by the councillors bordering on allegation of financial impropriety, corruption, misappropriation and contract inflation level against her.

Hon. Adeleye disclosed that during the course of their investigation, they discovered that the council chairperson has been embezzling the council’s funds to enrich herself and her immediate family.

They also discovered that the council treasurer was not aware of the council’s two accounts with Polaris bank where revenue like shop permits, rates, levies and taxes etc. are being deposited. 

The council chairperson was said to have among other things acquired Lexus LX 570 at a whooping amount of N35,000,000:00 just four months after her assumption of office.

She was also alleged to have bought lexus RX 350 for her senior brother, created office of chairperson for her sister and gave her Venza acquired with the council’s funds.