Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have ordered the immediate removal of the Sole Administrator of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Mr Habeeb Aileru, for alleged gross misappropriation of fund and fragrant disregard of the law.
This directive followed a motion moved by Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (Local Government), Mr Bisi Yusuf, on the alleged gross mismanagement of the council.
The lawmaker told his colleagues that during a mid-year budget review, his committee found out that the council boss perpetrated the alleged crime.
According Mr Yusuf, the council boss disregarded directives of the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, that no sole administrators should incur any debts or award contracts.
The congressman alleged that Mr Aileru, who met a debt of N285 million at Oriade LCDA, incurred a whooping N408 million as at the last quarter of 2016.
Contributing to the motion, Mrs Olufunmilayo Tejusho, a member of the committee, claimed Mr Aileru threw all caution to the wind and acted like a demi-god in the local council.
Mrs Tejuosho said that the council boss has failed in his duties and should be made to face the law.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, declared that the decision of the committee was the decision of the House.
He noted that Mr Aileru had been indicted by the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government in the state for misappropriation of funds, adding that he also failed to amend his ways even after being written to by both the Council Manager and the Council Treasurer.
The council sole administrators were appointed last year by Governor Ambode and their tenure will expire this month.
Lagos is expected to conduct elections into the 57 councils in the state on July 22, 2017.
