• No one can suspend me under ‘kangaroo’ arrangement, says Omolayo
• Alleges councillors wanted kickback

Chairman, Owo Local Council of Ondo State, Tope Omolayo, has been suspended indefinitely over alleged gross misconduct.

Omolayo was suspended with immediate effect following the resolutions reached by the legislative council under the leadership of Doyin Adebayo during its sitting yesterday, in Owo.

Meanwhile, the embattled chairman has dismissed the claim of his suspension, stressing that he is yet to receive any official communication to that effect.

With the decision passed by 11 councillors of the legislative council, which signalled two-thirds, the councillors disclosed that the decisive action was taken to ensure good governance and accountability in the council.

Adebayo, while urging stakeholders within the council to remain calm over the development, said that the Vice Chairman, Hamed Ibrahim, would act as Chairman during the period of suspension.

“The allegations against Omolayo include financial impropriety, utter violation of statutory budget and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) regulations, disrespect to traditional heads, and failure to conduct himself in an appropriate manner. These allegations are serious and require a thorough investigation,” he said.

However, Omolayo described the councillors, who backed his purported suspension, as elements of destruction, insisting that he is in full control of the council and that the actions and complaints of the councillors were largely financially motivated.

“Those are elements of destruction. I didn’t receive any letter from them; we did not even argue. We were in the same programme yesterday. I was at the office during the installation of the appointed advisors. But I knew there were some leaders who were not happy with what we were doing.

“So, they are not happy. All they wanted was for me to give them money. When they gave me project money, they said I should give them 30 per cent. I said no. They said I should go and bring N25 million. All they were agitating for was money, money, money.”