By Albert Akpor         & James Ezema
LAGOS—THE lingering crisis that led to the impeachment of the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government area chairman, Mr Ayodele Adewale, Wednesday, morning, got to a head, yesterday, with students of Lagos State University, LASU, storming the secretariate and chasing out all the council’s staff in an apparent show of solidarity to the impeached chairman.

The students, numbering over 50, were reportedly loaded in the school’s bus while some came in their private cars, chanting war songs.  Eyewitness said the irate students promptly barricaded the entrance to the secretariate and forced staff out of their various offices, vowing not to vacate there until Adewale, said to be former president of the students union government was reinstated.

However, Police led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Usman Ndanbabo quickly mobilised, arrived the scene and dispersed the students.  Three of them, said to be the ring leaders, were arrested and detained.  At  press time , the entrance to the secretariat was condoned off by armed policemen.

Adewale was impeached, Wednesday, on the floor of the council’s legislative chambers by five out of  seven members of the House for what they termed “mal-administration, and high-handedness.”

According to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Florence Ife-Omotayo, Comrade Adewale was removed on allegation of “mal-administration , high handedness ”, adding that, “he was not following due process in the award of contracts” Continuing, Speaker Omotayo said, “ Former chairman abandoned his duty post  for 40 days when he travelled abroad with the Council Manager and former leader of the legislative arm, knowing full well that  the vice-chairman was away to Mecca to perform her  religious obligations, thus bringing the council administration to a halt.”

But when contacted, the new chairman Alhaja Qudirat Omolara Dada, said that the development took her by surprise, disclosing that she was simply  called into the council chamber and  sworn-in by the councilors who claimed the former chairman did not carry them along in the administration of the council.  Efforts to speak with the impeached chairman proved abortive.

However, a source close to his office described the impeachment as a charade adding,  “The Chairman is still in charge. He will be in the office tomorrow (Thursday).  It was just a kangaroo thing. They did not follow due process and it cannot stand. It is a charade”.