Alimosho Lawmakers Defy State Assembly, Reaffirm Support For Jelili Sulaimon
Kehinde Adeleye
In a surprising turn of events, the Alimosho Local Government legislative council has reaffirmed its full support for Chairman Mr. Jelili Sulaimon, defying a suspension order issued by the Lagos State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker, Rt. Mudashiru Obasa.
During a tense plenary session, the local lawmakers overturned the suspension, praising Sulaimon for his exemplary character, referring to him as an “omoluabi”—a person of high moral standing and integrity.
The Lagos State House of Assembly had earlier suspended Sulaimon on October 7, 2024, accusing him of financial impropriety, misconduct, and disregard for legislative authority. However, the Alimosho legislative body disputed these allegations, asserting that the chairman had diligently performed his duties in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Instead of upholding the chairman’s suspension, the local councillors, led by Mr. Obadina Ahmed, took the bold step of suspending the council’s vice chairman, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson. Johnson was charged with insubordination, failure to provide accountability for his role as chairman of the tender board, and for repeatedly ignoring three invitations to appear before the legislative body.
The motion to suspend Johnson was introduced by Majority Leader Bolaji Yusuf and received unanimous support from the legislative council. Mr. Obadina Ahmed, as the leader of the house, officially announced Johnson’s suspension.
Key legislators supporting the decision included Mr. Obadina Ahmed, Mrs. Mojisola Fabusuyi Ayeni, Mr. Omobolaji Yusuf, Mr. Saheed Adegoke, Mr. Rasheed Semiu, Mrs. Elizabeth Fashina, and Mr. Fadeyi Samuel.
Following the session, Mr. Obadina Ahmed emphasized the importance of local government autonomy as outlined in the 1999 Constitution. He stated, “This decision underscores the independence of local government, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The authority to suspend a local government official lies with the legislative arm of the local government, not with the state assembly.”
The legislative arm also cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that further clarified the powers of local councils in the suspension of officials.
In response to the legislative council’s actions, the office of the council chairman reassured the public that Mr. Jelili Sulaimon remains in control of local government operations, encouraging everyone to continue their regular activities peacefully.
