A political crisis has erupted in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos as council chairman Moyosore Ogunlewe and councillor Gbenga Samuel David exchange accusations of corruption and misconduct.
Ogunlewe has denied allegations that his administration mismanaged a ₦100 million empowerment programme, describing the claims as false and politically motivated. The councillor had accused the council leadership of financial irregularities in the execution of the initiative.
Responding to the allegations, the chairman insisted that the empowerment programme was conducted transparently and properly documented. He explained that residents were given a one-week window to register for the programme at the council secretariat, after which beneficiaries were randomly selected from the compiled list of applicants.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we maintain detailed records of every beneficiary, including their full names, phone numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, home addresses and valid means of identification,” Ogunlewe said, adding that the administration’s records are open for scrutiny.
The chairman also dismissed claims relating to a recent court injunction obtained by the councillor, clarifying that the order was unrelated to any alleged exposure of financial wrongdoing in the council.
According to him, the court order only restrains the Legislative Council from suspending David over his reported absence from council sittings for nearly two months.
Ogunlewe alleged that the councillor stopped attending legislative meetings around the same time he was invited to appear before a panel investigating a sexual assault complaint filed against him.
He further stressed that the authority to suspend a councillor does not lie with the executive arm of the council but with the legislative council.
Council officials also disclosed that the sexual assault allegation against David predates the current administration. They said the complaint was originally filed by Miss Idowu Charity during David’s tenure as Special Adviser on Chieftaincy Affairs.
The matter was reportedly presented before a previous legislative council and was said to have been resolved at the time. However, the petitioner later approached the current legislative council, which invited the councillor for another hearing — an invitation officials say he declined.
David has denied the allegation, maintaining that the claim is false and politically motivated. He argued that the petition, dated December 19, 2025, surfaced shortly after he submitted a misconduct petition against the council leadership to the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The councillor alleged that the sexual harassment accusation was orchestrated to discredit him and undermine his claims of financial misconduct within the local government.
Meanwhile, Justice Olufunke Sule-Amzat of the Lagos State High Court, has granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents from suspending, expelling, or taking disciplinary action against the councillor pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court also barred the Nigeria Police Force from arresting or detaining David over the sexual harassment petition, noting that the matter is already under investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Ikoyi.
Justice Sule-Amzat further directed all parties to refrain from taking additional steps concerning the petition until the court rules on the pending motion.
The dispute has heightened tensions within Kosofe Local Government, with observers closely watching how the allegations and ongoing court proceedings may affect the council’s political landscape in the coming weeks.