Councillors of Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State have suspended the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. Adegbite Isaiah Alaba, over allegations of financial misappropriation and gross misconduct.
This development is coming barely 24 hours after the Chairman of Oriire Local Government, Hon. Olateju Micheal Alabi, was suspended on Monday by 8 councillors at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Adeniran Issa.
MOUTHPIECE NGR gathered that the Surulere councillors, at their sitting on Tuesday presided over by the House Leader, unanimously suspended Hon. Adegbite.
He was suspended by 9 councillors who are Hon. Akanbi Abiola (Ward 1), Hon. Ajadi Olumide (Ward 2), Hon. Oladimeji Akanbi (Ward 4), Hon. Adeniran Nelson (Ward 5), Hon. Olabunmbi Joseph (Ward 6), Hon. Ibitoye Simon Olusola (Ward 7), Hon. Alabi Mojeed (Ward 8), and Hon. Ogundare Oludele.
Following the suspension, the legislative arm directed the Vice Chairman of the local government to take charge in acting capacity until further confirmation by the Oyo State House of Assembly as substantive chairman.
According to the resolution of the House, the decisions reached at the sitting include: “That Hon. Isaiah Adegbite is hereby suspended from office based on financial improprieties and acts of gross misconduct levelled against him and his office.
- That the Oyo State House of Assembly should take further constitutional steps to remove him from office based on the proven allegations against him.
- That his case should be further referred to the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
- That the Vice Chairman should assume office as Acting Chairman until further confirmation by the State House of Assembly as substantive chairman.
The latest suspension has further heightened political tension in Ogbomoso zone, coming amid the wave of suspensions rocking local governments in the state.
Residents and political stakeholders now await the official position of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the state government on the two suspensions.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the suspended chairman, Hon. Adegbite Isaiah Alaba, for his reaction were unsuccessful.
