Oyo Assembly to ‘Sacked’ ALGON: Return All Govt. Properties

• Motion may be sub judicial – Lawmakers

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday urged all the sacked Chairmen of the 33 Local Governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas in the state to return all government properties in their custody to their respective councils.

The State House of Assembly made the call during a matter of urgent public importance brought before it by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South).

The House of Assembly explained that the call became imperative inorder to ensure accountability and continuity of governance in all the LGs and LCDAs in the State.

It also urged the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and other Security Agencies to intervene and ensure all Government properties movable or unmovable allegedly taken away by the embattled ALGON Chairmen are returned to the various councils.

The House further directed all the Caretaker Chairmen to take proper inventory of all missing properties in their councils and forward the details to the Oyo State House of Assembly.

However, in their comments, Hon. Abidoye Bamigboye (Oriire) and Hon Isiaka Tunde (Oyo East,Oyo West State Constituencies) had urged the House not to rule on the motion as according to them the sacked Chairmen have promised to head to the Supreme Court which is the Apex court in Country and as such the action of the House may be sub judicial.

But, in their swift reactions, the Deputy Speaker,Hon Mohammed Fadeyi, Hon Francis Adetunji (Oluyole), Hon Olusola Owolabi (Ib North East2) and Hon Adeola Bamidele (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) countered the comment of the opposition party and urged the House to rule on the motion by directing the sacked Chairmen to return all government properties in their possession without further delay.

Meanwhile, a Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan yesterday ruled in favor of the Oyo State Government declaring that the sacked Chairmen failed to prove their case beyond all reasonable doubts.

The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin while ruling on the motion said the properties, especially vehicles allegedly taken away by the sacked Chairmen are government properties which were not acquired by the said persons legally.

According to him, “If it was on record that those properties were acquired through or auction or other legal means then the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly will not intervene and will not question such action. However, the properties were not rightfully acquired by the said Chairmen. They can’t continue to keep Government properties in their possession. That could amount to theft of Government properties.”