Ekiti Assembly suspend member for sleeping throughout sittings

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended the member representing Ikere Constituency 2, Mr. Sunday Akinniyi, for “regularly absenting himself” at meetings and for allegedly sleeping through sittings in the last three years.

While also accusing Akinniyi of engaging in acts of terrorism, the lawmakers barred him from the vicinity of the Assembly complex and mandated the Clerk to lodge a formal complaint of threat to lives of members against him to security agencies.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, who made this known to newsmen on Wednesday said, “Hon Akinniyi is in the habit 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.”
Omotoso further stated that the suspension followed a series of allegations levelled against him by the Leader, Tunji Akinleye.
He said the decision was reached based on a report submitted after due investigation carried out by Ayodele Fajemilehin-led committee of the assembly.
“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 is slated for discussion.
“Despite complaints of negligence from his people, he remained adamant.”
The House spokesman recalled that Akinniyi was initially removed as the Chief Whip of the House on May 24, 2018 when his malfeasance was becoming unbearable, in an attempt to make him alive to his responsibilities.
“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.

“Ekiti House of Assembly will be alive to the noble doctrine of active service as elected representatives of our various constituencies,” he said.

Omotosho advised Akinniyi to pay more attention to his health and use the period of his suspension to come out of his “embarrassing sleep syndrome by sleeping at home rather than chasing shadows.”