Suspended Chairman of Alimosho Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Jelili Sulaimon, has pleaded with the state House of Assembly for forgiveness.
The apology comes nearly a month after he was suspended for non-compliance, defiance and unyielding attitude to the House and as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Olisa Agbakoba faulted the suspension.
In a ‘Letter of Apology’ personally signed by the embattled chairman, addressed to Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and read on the floor of the House, yesterday, Jelili accepted that his actions caused disrespect to the House.
While expressing regret, he promised to, henceforth, show maximum respect to the House and work closely with the legislators .
The suspended chairman also informed the House, through a letter by his lawyers, that he had withdrawn the suit he filed against the Assembly before a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The letter read, among others: “I am writing to express my most sincere and heartfelt apology for any actions or inactions, misrepresentation or conduct on my part that may have contributed to the recent misunderstanding between myself and the esteemed Lagos State House of Assembly under your leadership.
“Upon reflection, I realised that my conduct and certain decisions I made might have been perceived as disrespectful or contrary to the standard of leadership and the mutual respect that defines the relationship between the Assembly and the local government leadership.
“This was never my intention. I deeply regret any discomfort or displeasure this may have caused your personality as well as the entire House.”
But, Agbakoba, also former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), speaking with newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, described the suspension as an aberration and a flagrant disregard of the recent Supreme Court judgment, granting autonomy to local governments.
According to him, it is unconstitutional for any state House of Assembly or a sitting governor to suspend an elected chairman or vice chairman of a local council.
“I don’t understand how a resolution would be passed by a state Assembly to suspend an elected chairman.
“The House of Assembly or a governor of a state does not have the power to remove or suspend an elected chairman or vice-chairman of a council, it is absolutely unconstitutional.
“The 774 local governments were created by Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the chairmen are democratically elected.
“The 774 council chairmen are elected by the people and not by any politician, group of people or an institution like the House of Assembly.”
The former NBA president said the only way to remove an errant council chairman was through the decision of the council’s legislative council or councillors.
