Tompolo’s brother suspended as council chairman

TENSION mounted in Warri South-West Local Governemnt Area of Delta State on Thursday when the Legistaive Arm suspended the chairman of the council, Mr George Ekpemupolo, a younger brother of ex-militant leader, Tompolo, and three councilors with immediate effect  for supposed misappropriation of funds.

Twelve members of the  legislative arm who took the decision also declared vacant the seat of Mr. Anthony Ayebibode, the  councillor representing Kunukunuma-Ama,  ward 5,  for being absent from duties without excuse for seven months and urged the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, to conduct a bye election to fill the void.

But in a swift reaction, the chairman, Mr. Ekpemupolo said on saturday that the councillors do not have the right by law to suspend me. It is the State House of Assembly that can do that by law of the state. If they want any clarification about the council fund, they can request for a statement of the account but to the best of my knowledge, they have not done that.

“I wonder why they should go to press with such matter when they have not asked for the statement of account. Again, every council is entitled to security votes and the chairman has a right to withdraw from it for the security of the council area”, he said.

The suspension of the chairman and councillors was contained in a letter,  dated 10th February 2011,  signed by Mrs. Rose Tulu, Leader of legislative Arm, addresed to the State House of Assembly, a  copy of which was made available on Saturday over allegation that the council chairman deducted  N66.9million from revolving impress, general exigencies, special duties impress and office utilities maintenance .