Ekiti State House of Assembly on Wednesday suspended indefinitely its former Chief Whip who represents Ikere Constituency 2, Mr. Sunday Akinniyi.
He was suspended on allegations of habitually absenting himself from plenary of the House, terrorism, and sleeping too much during meetings.
The lawmakers not only suspended Akinniyi, but also barred him from being seen around the vicinity of the Assembly complex, and further mandated the Clerk to lodge a formal complaint of threat to lives of members against him to security agencies.
According to chairman House Committee on Information, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, the lawmakers had no other option than suspend the erring member following series of allegations levied against him by the Leader of Business, Tunji Akinleye.
Omotoso added that the resolution to suspend Akinniyi was arrived at based on a report submitted after due investigation carried out by Ayodele Fajemilehin-led committee of the Assembly.
He said, “Hon Akinniyi Sunday was alleged, a few weeks ago, of breeding terrorism within the Institution of the House, violence towards the Mace in a properly constituted plenary session, belligerence attitude and acts of bellicosity against his colleagues and pugnacious behaviours in his constituency against his own people, all amounting to gross misconduct and unbecoming of any honourable member of this House.
“The suspended member was also regularly regular in absenting himself especially when issues relating to his constituency are slated for discussion. Despite complaints of negligence from his people, he remained adamant.”
Recalling that Akinniyi was initially removed as the Chief Whip of the House on May 24, 2018 due to his malfeasance, Omotoso said “Rather than achieve this, the few occasions he presented himself for official duties in the House, Hon Akinniyi is in the habits of sleeping from the beginning of any programme to the end, to the extent that he was nicknamed ‘The sleeping Honourable’.
“Several attempts by the Speaker (Kola Oluwawole) advising him to pay attention to his people and his health has been rebuffed with insults.
“It is in reference to all these that this House viewed the failures of Akinniyi as incompatible with the spirit of good governance and quality representation of the present House of Assembly and he is hereby suspended indefinitely.
