The Imo State House of Assembly on Thursday suspended the Council Chairmen of the 27 local government councils of the state over their failure to appear before it.
The Assembly made the resolution to this effect following a motion moved by the member representing Nkwerre state constituency, Hon. Chika Madumere (AGAP) when the council chairmen failed to honour the summons issued to them on April 25, 2019.
The Chairmen had been directed to appear before the House with their Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS) and Treasurers over allegations of gross misconduct.
It was gathered that the Chairmen appeared unaccompanied by the DAGs and Treasurers on April 25th and were directed to return on May 9 with them.
However while the DAGs and Treasurers honoured the subsequent invitation, the chairmen failed to appear before the House.
Ruling in favour of the motion, the Speaker, Chief Acho Ihim (Okigwe, AA) ruled that the Council Chairmen be suspended indefinitely while their Vice Chairmen take over.
He also ruled that the Chairmen should present themselves for inquiries in line with the ongoing investigations into allegations against them by the House Committee on Local Government and Public Accounts headed by Lawman Duruji (Ehime Mbano).
The Speaker further directed that the suspended chairmen should return all government properties in their possession and directed the Clerk of the House to write to the state Commissioner of Police to enforce the restriction on their use of government property.
