Cynthia Ezegwu
The Ogun State Government has summoned the suspended Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Alhaji Wasiu Adewale, and members of the legislative council who suspended him, to an emergency meeting on Friday.
The invitation followed the chairman’s suspension by the councillors for three months over allegations of financial misappropriation, insubordination, and disregard for constituted authority.
Confirming the development in an interview with PUNCH Online on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi, said the ministry was investigating the matter.
He said, “The suspension story of the chairman is real, it is true, but we don’t yet know what happened. The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has, however, called for a meeting tomorrow (Friday) to look into the whole issue and hear from both sides.”
During Thursday’s plenary, Councillor Musediq Asalu, representing Ota Ward 2, moved the motion for Adewale’s suspension, accusing him of persistent acts of negligence, insubordination, and financial misconduct.
Asalu alleged that the council had on at least four occasions requested detailed accounts of income and expenditure from the chairman in line with Section 52 of Part V of the Ogun State Local Government Law 2000 (as amended), but Adewale allegedly failed to comply.
“This deliberate refusal to render an account of the local government’s financial operations is not only a breach of the law; it also raises serious suspicion of financial impropriety, administrative impunity, and abuse of office,” Asalu said.
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He further accused Adewale of disregarding legislative resolutions and correspondence, describing his actions as “gross disrespect to the authority of the legislature.”
Following deliberations, the council resolved to suspend Adewale for three months pending investigation into the financial and administrative management of the local government.
The chairman was directed to hand over all government properties in his possession to the Head of Local Government Administration and barred from accessing council accounts or representing the local government in any capacity during the suspension.
The Vice Chairman, Abosede Balogun, was directed to assume office as acting chairman and discharge all duties in accordance with the law.