Suspended Alimosho LG Chairman resists, declares suspension unlawful, sue Obasa

By KEMI KASUMU

“The autonomy of Local Government councils is a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s Federal system, and any attempt to undermine that autonomy is a violation of constitutional provisions.”

The last may not have been heard about the recent development in Lagos State, where the state House of Assembly, led by Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa, suspended the elected Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Hon. Sulaimon Jelili, over what alleged murder related cases.

But the embattled council boss, while speaking over the matter, has given a different version of the story as he declares his suspension by the State House of Assembly illegal and unconstitutional.

In a statement by his lawyer, Dr Abdul Mahmud, he said the suspension constituted a blatant affront on the recent decision of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of Local Government under the 1999 Constitution.

He condemned the decision of the House and the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to suspend the chairman and direct his deputy to take over the Council affairs.

The lawyer said that the coercive actions of the Speaker and the encroachment of the Assembly on the constitutional power of the Local Government would be resisted within the ambit of law.

He said, “The autonomy of Local Government councils is a fundamental pillar of Nigeria’s Federal system, and any attempt to undermine that autonomy is a violation of constitutional provisions. The recent decision of the Supreme Court in Attorney General of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Abia State & 35 Ors (SC/CV/343/2024) expressly recognises that local governments are vested with powers to manage their own affairs independently, without undue interference from states’ Houses of Assembly. By allegedly suspending Hon. Jelili Sulaimon, the Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly have acted in clear defiance of the constitutional principles enunciated by the apex court, thereby exceeding their constitutional mandates.’’

The lawyer said that there was a pending suit, filed by his client before the Federal High Court challenging the powers of the Speaker and the Lagos State House of Assembly to exercise oversight functions over the affairs of Alimosho Local Government.

He stressed that the Assembly cannot exercise such oversight functions when the Council has its own legislative assembly charged with such functions.

The lawyer said that the defendants in the suit were duly served with the Court processes.

He stated. “In fact, the action of the Speaker and the Assembly, while this case is subsisting, constitutes an unlawful interference in a matter that has yet to be determined by the court. The Speaker and his cohorts in the Lagos State House of Assembly, in their attempt to ambush and foist helplessness on the Federal High Court, have merely displayed jejune rascality. If the government treats court order with levity and contempt, the confidence of the citizens in the courts will be seriously eroded and the effect of that will be the beginning of anarchy in replacement of the rule of law.’’

The lawyer stressed that his client “cannot be cowed by the legislative tyranny of the House or deterred by the Speaker’’.

He, therefore, called on the Speaker and the House to immediately reverse the decision.

The counsel reiterated that the suspension of an elected official without due process was a threat to democratic governance and should not be tolerated in any form or giving any recognition.

Responding to Jelili’s Lawyer, the House, in a statement said he was ignorant of the law.

Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman, Committee of Information of the Lagos State House of Assembly said that the law does not recognise sentiment, emotions.

Ogundipe advised Jelili against ascribing self-made meanings to the laws empowering the lawmakers act where necessary in the interest of the people.

Read the full reaction below:

JELILI SULAIMAN’S SUSPENSION BACKED BY LAW

“The attention of the Lagos State House of Assembly has been drawn to a statement supposedly signed by Dr. Abdul Mahmud, counsel to the embattled Alimosho local government chairman, Mr. Jelili Sulaimon, claiming to condemn the unanimous agreement of the Assembly to suspend his client on Monday, October 7, 2024.

“Beyond the sensational rhetoric and half-baked details in the statement that is replete with emotions rather than deep-thoughts, it is pertinent to break down the real situation and puncture arguments as to the powers of the House to suspend Mr. Jelili.

“In his race to the public to ‘garner’ sentiments, Jelili’s lawyer forgot to remember that there are no local government areas that created themselves. In other words, the creation of a local government follows strict processes of the law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) creates the path to knowledge about this.

“The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to Section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.” Does this answer a question from the arguments of Jelili’s lawyer as to who has the power to create laws that regulate the activities of local government councils and their administration?

“For better understanding, that section provides for the existence of: democratically elected system of Local Government to be guaranteed by a law of the State House of Assembly.

“The same section provides that the House of Assembly is required to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to Local Government Councils in a State. Section 8(3) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly in the creation of a new Local Government Area(s) in a State while Section 8(4) highlights the procedure to be undertaken by a State House of Assembly, through law, in the boundary adjustment of existing Local Government Areas.

“Now, Section 162 (8) of the Constitution stipulates that a Law of the State House of Assembly shall provide for the distribution of monies standing to the credit of Local Government councils in a State.

“Maybe we should remind him, his client and those travelling with him that Section 128 of the same Constitution further gives clarity to the powers of the House of Assembly.

“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the office Gazette of the Government of the State to direct or cause to be directed an inquiry or investigation into – (a) any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws.

“Here and based on the above constitutional provision, we are moved to ask again: who is legally guaranteed to make the law that creates the running of the local government? It is definitely not the National Assembly which is granted the constitutional powers to create states and not local governments.

“This brings us to the Lagos State Local Government Administration Law (as amended) upon which the creation, administration and related activities of the local government system of Lagos State are based.

“For better public information and effective knowledge, Section 24(a) of the amended law gives powers to the Lagos State House of Assembly to pass a resolution for the removal or suspension of any chairman, vice chairman, or official of any local government area (LGA) or local council development area (LCDA) after conducting an investigation. It states further that all that is needed for this resolution is a simple majority of the Assembly members. This emphasis is further highlighted in Section 5 of the law.

“The amendment aims to ensure accountability and maintain order within the local government structure in Lagos State.

“With this level of enlightenment as to the position of the laws guiding the administration of local government councils, it is further important to avoid misinformation or misrepresentation of the recent Supreme Court judgement concerning local governments in Nigeria. There is a marked difference between financial autonomy (upon which the lawyer’s argument rests) and administrative powers of the House. The rush to churn out a defence armed, albeit, with inferior understanding of the Supreme Court judgement does not give a sufficient case against the action of the House of Assembly.

“The Local Government Administration law from which the council chairman and other elected officials of the local government system derive their powers is a product of the House of Assembly. The office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments that monitors the financial activities of this third tier of government is created by the law made by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“The Local Government Service Commission which handles issues relating to the officials of local governments is a creation of the House of Assembly. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) that conducts elections into elective offices at the local government level is a creation of the House of Assembly. Therefore, jettisoning these facts will amount to a poor knowledge of the legislature. If you say the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have the power over local governments, it means all these laws created by the House should not be in place. If the laws should not be in place, then why would local governments exist?

“We learnt that in a bid to protect the chairman, the councillors of the Alimosho Local Government Area hurriedly suspended the Vice Chairman, Akinpelu Johnson. To show how laughable this is, it is good to note that the law guiding them does not have a provision for suspension. The Local Government Administration law gives them the opportunity to remove a chairman or vice chairman but this also comes with a process. Thus, the suspension of Johnson is simply invalid. It is therefore necessary to remind the council leader that he can also be removed in line with the Local Government Administration law of Lagos State. If he does not know this, then, it is a pity.

“For the few trying to juxtapose the functions of the National Assembly with those of the House of Assembly in this case, they should take a chill pill and request to be tutored. The National Assembly cannot interfere with the runnings of a State. It is not a part of its duty. On the other hand, the constitution grants the State House of Assembly powers over the local governments.

“It is to be noted that this is not the first time the Lagos State House of Assembly would be suspending the same council chairman. In May 2021, he was suspended with two others by the House for their total disregard for the local government guidelines created by the State Legislature.

“While we urge against mawkishness, we would also like to task residents of the council and members of the public not to allow themselves be swayed by positions and opinions that are opposite the law in this regard”.

However, Akinpelu Johnson, the Vice Chairman of the Council has been sworn in as the Acting Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area.