Bayelsa Assembly Approves Removal of Sagbama Council Chairman, Vice Chairman Over Alleged Gross Misconduct

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the removal from office of the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council, Hon. Alice Allen Tangi, and the Vice Chairman, Hon. Sufade Jefferson Tobi, over alleged gross misconduct.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary session following the consideration of the matter by the Committee of the Whole.

Declaring the resolution, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, said the action was taken in accordance with Sections 24, subsections 6 and 7, of the Bayelsa State Local Government Administration Law, 2000.

The Speaker said the House was guided by a petition against the council leadership and the alleged failure of the chairman and vice chairman to honour several invitations extended by the Assembly to respond to the allegations contained in the petition.

Ingobere also cited relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alleging that the chairman and vice chairman had underperformed in the discharge of their official responsibilities.

According to the Speaker, the Assembly had secured the required two-thirds majority to approve the resolution, thereby satisfying the legal requirement for the Governor of Bayelsa State to act on the proposed removal of the two council officials.

Our Assembly Correspondent reports that the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council, Hon. Alice Tangi Allen, did not appear before the House despite the invitations extended to her.

However, principal officers of the Sagbama Local Government Council appeared before the Assembly and were subjected to questions on the administration and management of the council.

The House subsequently adopted the resolution seeking the removal of the chairman and vice chairman from office and transmitted its decision in line with the relevant provisions of the law.