Imo House of Assembly on Thursday suspended the chairmen of the 27 local governments in the state over their failure to appear before it in response to a summons.
The house made the resolution following a motion moved by the member representing Nkwerre Constituency, Mr Chika Madumere (AGAP) when the chairmen failed to honour the summons issued to them on April 25.
The assembly had asked the chairmen to appear before it with their Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS) and treasurers over allegations of gross misconduct.
The chairmen appeared unaccompanied by the DAGs and treasurers on April 25 but were asked to return on May 9 with them.
However, while the DAGs and treasurers honoured the invitation the chairmen failed to come.
Ruling in favour of the motion, the Speaker, Mr Iheanacho Ihim (Okigwe-AA) said the chairmen had been suspended indefinitely and that their deputies should take over.
He also ruled that the chairmen should still submit to ongoing investigations into the allegations against them by the House Committee on Local Government and Public Accounts headed by Lawman Duruji (Ehime Mbano -AA).
He further directed that the chairmen should return all government property in their possession and asked the Clerk of the House to write to the Commissioner of Police in the state to enforce the restriction on their use of government property.
