The chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Goke Jatuwase, has been suspended by the legislative arm over alleged misappropriation of funds and abuse of office. 

Peoples Gazette gathered that the decision to suspend Mr Jatuwase was reached by 11 councillors in the local government.

Rising from their plenary session on Thursday, the councillors in a letter passed a vote of no confidence on Mr Jatuwase.

In the copy of the letter obtained by The Gazette, Mr Jatuwase was ordered to hand over power to his vice, Mebino Obele, pending an investigation.

“The reason for your suspension is to allow Ilaje Local Government Legislative Council carry out investigation of monetary documents as allocated to the llaje Local Government in terms of monthly ad-hoc fund and the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Ilaje local government for the last two years. 

“Equally your reason for the suspension is directly related to the following as compounding abuse of power,” the copy of the letter read in part.  

The councillors also alleged Mr Jatuwase of gross misconduct and indiscipline, high level of incompetence, and callousness.

He was also accused of total disregard for democratic principles and the yearnings of the teaming population of Ilaje LGA. 

“Mr. Chairman, be informed that your suspension takes immediate effect therefore you are hereby totally prevented to perform any role whatsoever of the Executive Chairman, llaje Local Government. Hence you are required to, with immediate effect, transfer power to the Vice Chairman, Hon. Mebino Dickson Obele,” the letter added. 

But reacting to his suspension as the council chairman, Mr Jatuwase said he had not been served officially, stressing that the legislative arm has no right to suspend him from office. 

He explained that he only got to know about his suspension on social media after his attention was called to it by a few friends. 

“So, I have not gotten the letter officially and they can’t even communicate me. It’s the clerk that can serve me such and it is not within their (councillors) power or right,” Mr Jatuwase said.