Surulere LGA Councillors Suspend Chairman Over Alleged Financial Misappropriation

The Legislative Arm of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State have suspended the council Chairman, Mr Tajudeen Ajide over misappropriation of funds and abuse of office.

The Councillors are seeking the approval of the Lagos State House of Assembly to impeach the council  chairman Mr Tajudeen Ajide.

The decision, which was collectively taken by all the nine Councillors in Surulere Local government, was made to enable them conclude their investigations.

In a statement issued at the end of its plenary session on Friday, 9th April 2021 which was signed by all the Councillors, and made available  to Newsmen,  Ajide is said to have refused to make available all legal documents of all contracts issued by his administration from inceptive till date.

The lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence which was followed by the suspension of the Executive Chairman, Mr Tajudeen Ajide based on grounds that the erstwhile chairman have misused his powers, Not Followed due process and misappropriated Council Funds

“Our findings show that 95 per cent of the contracts of the Local Government was been executed by two contractors (Olupopson Construction Limited and Serial Touch Limited) there was no bidding done and due process Followed in contractor selection.

“The Chairman also expended the sum of N60 million which was not budgeted for in the year 2020 on the pretence of variation on the construction of Primary Health Centre at Akerele which is an impeachable offence.

“Bogus and overinflated contracts on the purchase of official vehicles for the legislative Arm which will be a financial burden on the Councillors . Embezzlement of funds allocated for the purchase of two buses for the legislative arm.

“In view of the foregoing, Council resolved that since the Chairman was invited on three occasions in 2021 and refused to honour all the invitations, The Council, have therefore, resolved that the Executive Chairman be suspended from office to enable the Legislative Council conclude its investigation. Therefore, the Legislative Arm seeks the approval of the House of Assembly for the impeachment of the Local Government Chairman.”

Signed
Messrs

Akande Barakat
Adebisi Adebayo David
Fasasi Kehinde Ajenifuja
Phillips Olubunmi Emmanuel
Otinwa Olanrewaju Eric
Ijitola Oluwasegun Emmanuel
Kareem Muyideen Abiodun
Ajala Ajibola Yusuf
Kazeem Bello.