The N15m that got Ondo speaker sacked

The paymaster claimed he was asked to withdraw the N15million by the Speaker, Jumoke Akindele

The paymaster of Ondo State House of Assembly has literally sacked the first female Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, by his action.

The paymaster claimed he was asked to withdraw N15million in cash from the bank.

The money stacked inside a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag was meant to be delivered in Akindele’s home, according to him.

But the paymaster brought the bag to the Assembly Complex, where he was found out by other members of the assembly.

Questioned on the ownership of the money, he reportedly said it was meant for Akindele.

This prompted an instant rebellion with 20 out of the 26 members of the assembly moving to impeach the speaker at a short session.

According to Vanguard Online, 15 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and five member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) combined to carry out the rebellion.

An acting speaker, Malachi Coker and deputy speaker, Ayodele Arowele were elected. Olamide George was elected as the majority leader.

Akindele was born in Okitipupa, a town in Ondo State southwestern Nigeria.

She had her primary education at St. John’s Primary School in Okitipupa before she proceeded to St. Louis Girls Secondary School, Ondo where she obtained the West Africa School Certificate in 1981.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and practiced law for some years before she ventured into politics in 2006.

On April 2007, she contested the seat of his constituency, Okitipupa constituency II but lost to the opposition party.

She re-contested on April 11, 2011, and was elected as member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, where she served as Chairman of House Committee on Education before she was elected Speaker of the Assembly.

On May 27, 2015, she was elected Speaker of the Assembly following the sudden demise of the former speaker Samuel Adesina.