Lagos council chairman impeached over ‘financial misappropriation’

Oladotun Olakanle, chairman of Onigbongbo local council development area (LCDA), has been impeached.

According to NAN, he was accused of misappropriating funds before he was removed from office on Tuesday.

Kayode Opayemi, majority leader of the legislative arm of the LCDA, moved the motion for impeachment, and was supported by Adebayo Daudu, the chief whip.

The impeachment process was said to have held at the LCDA council chamber, and four out of the six members present voted in favour of the motion.

Also present at the plenary were Adeseyi Lawal, house leader; Olusola Isiaka, deputy leader; Gbenga Adedeji, deputy majority leader, and Bello Isiaka, deputy chief whip.

Bunmi Sofoluwe, clerk of the house, was also present during the sitting.

Lawal read the resolution of the house titled “Impeachment/Vote of No Confidence on Mr Oladotun Olakanle, Chairman of the Council”.

“In reference to the allegations of gross financial misappropriation, false proclamation of project never done by the LCDA, but by Lagos state works agency, this is with the intention to defraud the above named LCDA of millions of naira and all other offences which are in contravention to the Lagos State Local Government Administrative Acts of 2015 articles 5.3(F), 18.1, 8.3 and 22.1 respectively,” he said.

“With all other sections of modifications of offences in the local government administrative guidelines, also in the fifth schedule of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, which was brought to the house on March 13, 2021, and was read by the majority leader, the executive chairman, who is the alleged person, was invited on two occasions on March 17 and 18, respectively, but never honoured the invitation deliberately.

“In view of this, the legislative arm of the aforementioned LCDA decided on resolution to pass a vote of no confidence on him. Hence, he is hereby impeached by the honourable legislative arm.”

According to the house leader, pending the ratification of the resolution by the state house of assembly, the legislative arm has advised the most ranked political office holder to take up responsibilities related to the office of chairman.

Earlier, there was a deliberation on the report of an investigation by the committee set up by the house on allegations against the chairman.

This was followed by a voice vote that affirmed Olakanle’s impeachment.

A copy of the impeachment notice was also sent to Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly.