Following the allegation of corruption and embezzlement of council fund, the Oyo State House of Assembly has ordered the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government, Hon. Lateef Sulaimon Adeniran popularly known as Santana to step aside.
The petition against Hon. Adeniran Santana was signed was signed by a director on behalf of the state’s Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honour, Bar Olasunkanmi Olaleye.
The motion for the council chairman to step aside was moved by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North one state constituency, Hon. Babajide Gabriel and seconded by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin after the lawmakers have deliberated on the petition.
Based on the motion, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, therefore, ordered the Chairman of Irepo Local Government, Hon. Lateef Sulaimon Adeniran to step aside while investigation into allegation commenced.
Hon. Ogundoyin also ordered the Vice Chairman in the local government to take control of the administration in the council.
Also, The Oyo State House of Assembly has resolved to conduct a public hearing on the state Chiefs (Amendment) Bill.
The House made the resolution Tuesday after the bill passed through the second reading
This was sequel to the approval given by the Oyo State House of Assembly to a letter forwarded by Governor Seyi Makinde requesting for the amendment of the said Law.
The House has therefore committed the bill to the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
According to the House, due to the sensitivity of the bill as it concerns the traditional institutions, every necessary stakeholder including the Government and relevant ministry and the traditional institutions will be invited to be part of the public hearing.
The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin assured that the present administration will not do anything to undermine the history, culture and tradition of the people of the State.
Hon. Ogundoyin added that the bill will be giving all the attention it deserves.
The Bill is to amend the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
The amendment seeks to empower Governor Makinde to specify the Chieftaincy holders entitled to wear beaded crowns.
The part to be amended is subsection (1) of Section 28 of the Principal Law.
The letter read, “As part of the ongoing efforts of the present administration to specify the Chieftaincy holders entitled to wear beaded crowns in Oyo State, the Executive council has considered the need to amend the Chiefs Law of Oyo State. This is as a result of agitation of many High Chiefs on the issue of beaded crowns and the volume of litigations and resentment within communities in the State.
“In view of this, I wish to forward the Executive Extract on Chiefs (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to the House of Assembly.”
