Ifako-Ijaiye2 Muyiwa Jimoh1 Oloruntoba Oke1 Rotimi Olowo3
Hotnewsnaija Investigation has shown that the Lagos State House of Assembly has not cleared suspended Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Oloruntoba Oke over alleged mis-appropriation of#350 million.
About three month ago, Oke was suspended by House of Assembly members because of administrative incompetence and financial recklessness.
The Assembly also ordered the redeployment of the council manager, treasurer and engineer and directed the Vice Chairman, Mr Usman Hamzat to take over the helms of affairs at the council immediately.
The suspension came following the resolution of the House after taken the report of the five-man Ad-Hoc committee on the investigation of Ifako-Ijaye Local Government.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Rotimi Olowo, said the investigation followed the petition of concerned residents of the council.
According to him, despite getting loan and payment forthwith, the work done such as roads and construction of secretariat were not commensurate to the projects executed.
It was also disclosed that the loan of N350 million taken in 2012 during Oke’s first term in office was not appropriately expended.
The House stated that Oke failed to abide by the administrative guidelines stipulated by the State Assembly in 2011.
Deputy Majority Leader, Muyiwa Jimoh said, the error created was as a result of the bureaucracy in local government and that the chairman failed to abide by the administrative guidelines set up by the House.
He said the “the council manager, treasurer and engineers should also be affected.”
Abiodun Tobun noted: “from this report, we have observed the heads of the council were working at variance with law of the council. The council supposed to work in compliance with the State government in making dividends of democracy available to the people,” Tobun said.
According to Bisi Yusuff, “the recommendations of the committee will make some of those who feel untouchable to sit tight.”
On Monday, 10th of February, 2020; Hon. Oloruntoba Oke was seen at the Council Secretariat as he told the council workers that he has resumed from suspension.
During an interview with one of the Members of Lagos House of Assembly(Not withheld), he said the House has not lifted the suspension of Ifako-Ijaiye Council boss.
“There is no time that the Lagos House of Assembly sit on Oke’s matter. He remain suspended.His resumption is illegal and cannot stand,” He said.
A source, who did not want his name mentioned, said the political leaders in the Local Government area are at cross roads on the matter.
He added that Apostle Oloruntoba Oke is just sitting in the office without the executive power.
“He is just there in the office without executive power.He cannot sign any official document since there is no letter that lifted his suspension,” he added.