
The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed its committee on Local Government and that of Public Account (Local) to investigate a petition against the Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada over allegation of misappropriation of funds.
The joint committee will also investigate a petition written against the House Leader of Isolo LCDA, Mr. Remi Shittu for allegation of abuse of office.
The petitions read during plenary by the acting clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, were titled: “Petition against our House Leader, Councillor Remi Shittu”, and “Fraudulent misappropriation of public funds accruable to Ikosi-Isheri LCDA by the Executive Chairman, Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada and abuse of Office”, respectively.
The petition from Isolo LCDA accused the council leader of summarily suspending four of the seven councillors over absence at seating prior to the presentation of budget by the council chairman, Shamsideen Olaleye, adding that only three councillors witnessed the budget presentation and expressly passed the budget within 24 hours.
In Ikosi Isheri LCDA, the council leader, Mr. Akanni Ajibola Usman, in the petition to the House of Assembly, urged the lawmakers to intervene in the frosty relationship between the councillors and the executive chairman.
Usman alleged that Mrs. Bada misappropriated public funds and allegedly deprived the council of its statutory emoluments and also instigated some councillors to boycott seating.
Members, while reacting to the petitions called for the quick intervention of the House before the issues snowball and would become unmanageable.
Hon. Rotimi Abiru representing Shomolu Constituency II, expressed shock at how only three councillors would sit and pass a budget of a local government within 24 hours of receiving the budget proposal.
Hon. Rotimi Olowo from Shomolu Constituency I, noted that the development in the two LCDAs were reckless incursions of the executive arm into the legislature.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa II, however, raised a point of order that the issue bothers on budget, a fiscal document for the council and therefore must be accorded the required urgency it deserves.
Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration and Community Affairs, Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale also reflected on his experience across the councils visited recently in an oversight function.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, in his contributions, said, “Beyond the issue of the budget, there is need to address the victimisation and threats of councillors by council chairmen, and the introduction of thugs into the Local Government chambers to beat up councillors