The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
Last week’s suspension of 27 chairmen of Imo State local government areas by the State House of Assembly has been declared illegal by the council bosses, who have promptly disregarded the order.
It was learnt at weekend that the chairmen were still carrying out their duties at their various council headquarters across the state.
Chairman of Nkwere Local Government Area, Augustine Nwagwu, told journalists that the suspension order by the Imo lawmakers was illegal, adding that only the governor has the powers to suspend them.
The House of Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Acho Ihim, while responding to the motion to suspend the chairmen for alleged failure to honour its invitation with Directors of General Administration and Services (DAGS) and Treasurers for alleged financial misconduct had suspended them last Thursday.
The House directed them to handover the affairs and government property to their deputies and resolved to write to the state Commissioner of Police (CP) to enforce the order, instructing that no person, other than the lawmakers would lift the suspension.
But some lawyers said the lawmakers lacked such powers, arguing that based on section 73 (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, only the governor of a state could investigate the council chairmen and direct the lawmakers to suspend them if necessary.
