Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has suspended the caretaker chairmen of 18 local government areas (LGAs) and 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Aiyedatiwa stated that the caretaker chairmen will remain suspended till a court of law rules on the subject.
The governor asked the suspended caretaker chairmen to give over all LCDC properties in a letter signed by Alonge Adewale of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The letter read:
“It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.
“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all Legal matters relating to this subject.”
An Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi had granted an interim injunction filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sought to restrain late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating any person or persons not democratically elected as member(s) of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the local councils and the LCDAs, pending the determination of the interlocutory injunction in the suit.
Justice Fasanmi later barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they resumed office on the excuse that they had been sworn in before the order was granted.