Hon. Mutairu Gbadamosi, Leader of the Ado-Odo/Ota Legislative Council, accused of
assaulting colleagues and mismanaging cash gifts.
N200,000 Cash Gift Scandal Rocks Ado-Odo/Ota Legislative Council: Lawmakers Trade Blows as Leader Gbadamosi Denies Misappropriation Allegations
The Ado-Odo/Ota Legislative Council has been thrown into turmoil following a shocking public altercation involving its Leader, Hon. Mutairu Gbadamosi (ACA, ACIB), and other councillors.
The confrontation, which reportedly occurred on Thursday, September 11, at the birthday celebration of the Supervisor for Women Affairs, Mrs. Bimbo Alaraba, has sparked allegations of financial misappropriation, authoritarian leadership, and physical assault against the council leader.
From Birthday Party to Political Showdown
According to eyewitnesses, the incident began shortly after Gbadamosi arrived at the party. He was said to have assaulted Hon. Akapo Oladunjoye (Ado-Odo Ward 1) in what initially appeared to be a fallout over “financial misappropriation.” However, fresh findings by newsheadline247 revealed that the real bone of contention was cash gifts and political incentives meant for all members of the chamber.
One source who craved for anonymity said, “Hon. Gbadamosi assaulted Hon. Akapo shortly after arriving at the venue. It started with accusations of financial impropriety, but the real issue was money and gifts meant for the councillors.”
The situation escalated when Gbadamosi allegedly made phone calls during the altercation, after which suspected thugs stormed the venue, “brutalised” colleagues, and disrupted the event.
The N200,000 Trigger
Insiders traced the origins of the clash to a stakeholders’ meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held earlier in the week. At the meeting, a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele, reportedly donated N200,000 to be shared among the councillors.
It was alleged that Gbadamosi attempted to keep N40,000 belonging to three absent members, a move that sparked Hon. Akapo’s confrontation.
A councillor revealed in a phone chat with newsheadline247, “[sic] We had a stakeholder meetings [sic] on Monday that involved notable members of the party including former MHR member ojugbele [sic] who gave 160k and the leader wanted to corner whole sum of 40k because 3 of the legislators didn’t attend then akapo [sic] challenged leader that is the genesis of the saga, [sic].”
Gbadamosi Speaks: “Show Me Evidence”
When contacted, Hon. Gbadamosi strongly denied all allegations of corruption and wrongdoing.
In his WhatsApp response to newsheadline247, he said, “On the issue of financial misappropriation, the House does not have its own independent budget, and at no point was I given any money that was not duly delivered. If anyone has credible evidence, I would be glad to see it.”
On the fight itself, Gbadamosi offered a different narrative.
“Regarding the issue of thugs, I was invited to an event where I met two other honorable members, Hon. Joel Okeodebija and Hon. Akapo Oladunjoye. I greeted both of them and proceeded to have a conversation with Hon. Akapo, during which I expressed my disappointment over the way he had been reporting me to everyone on non-existent issues. Hon. Akapo did not respond, but Hon. Joel began swearing at me. At that point, I cautioned him to mind his speech, otherwise he would regret ever speaking to me in that manner. He immediately left the venue, raining abuses on me alongside Hon. Akapo, and since then, we have not had any further encounter,” he explained.
When pressed further about the allegation of improperly sharing political incentives, Gbadamosi dismissed it.
He said, “All the issues raised here are untrue and stem from hatred by some unidentified elements.”
And on the accusation that the council is already divided into factions under his watch, he said, “Might be personal to them. I am the Leader of the Legislative Council comprising 16 councillors, including myself. I am not aware of any faction. If there is, who is the factional leader? If some members claim they were attacked, let them provide evidence or eyewitnesses. Please disregard the claims of these individuals if they are not bold enough to present evidence. Thank you.”
Oladunjoye Fires Back: “He Rules Like an Emperor”
Hon. Akapo Oladunjoye, however, maintained that the story of a brawl was true and went further to accuse Gbadamosi of dictatorial leadership.
“The story that prompted ur [sic] questions were the true picture of what transpared [sic] at the event. Thanks,” he told newsheadline247.
In a phone call, Oladujoye expanded, “The house has been divided into two factions just weeks after its inception. Gbadamosi is not leading the house but instead rules the house like an emperor. He refuses to carry other principal officers along in decision-making.”
According to Oladunjoye, Gbadamosi’s faction—made up of councillors from Ilogbo, Ota 1, Ota 2, Ijoko, Ejila Awori, Ketu, Atan, and Ado-Odo 2—has sidelined the opposing bloc of councillors from Ado 1, Agbara, Igbesa, Ere, Ota 3, Sango, Iju, and Alapoti.
He further disclosed that, “When Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi donated N800,000 and 8 bags of rice as gifts for the 16 councillors, Gbadamosi and his faction shared everything among themselves, excluding the other group. He threatens colleagues with the disciplinary committee whenever they oppose him or question his decision. Sometimes, he even invites outsiders to intimidate councillors during sessions.”
Oladunjoye also accused the legislative leader of poor relations with civil servants in the chamber and revealed that “Gbadamosi once pushed for a vote of no confidence against the council chairman, Hon. Wasiu Lawal.”
However, when newsheadline247 reached out to both Hon. Joel Okeodebija and Hon. Akapo Oladunjoye for comments on the incident, only Oladunjoye responded, while Okeodebija remained silent as at the time of filing this report.
A Council at War
The unfolding drama paints a picture of a legislative house at war, divided by allegations of greed, authoritarianism, and mistrust.
While Gbadamosi insists there are “no factions” and describes the accusations as baseless, councillors like Oladunjoye are adamant that the council is fractured down the middle.
For now, the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government 9th Legislative Council, barely months into its tenure, appears to be on shaky ground, with the leadership crisis threatening to derail its legislative responsibilities.
Editorial Analysis
The crisis rocking the Ado-Odo/Ota Legislative Council offers a troubling glimpse into the fragile nature of Nigeria’s grassroots governance. What began as a squabble over cash gifts and party incentives has spiralled into accusations of dictatorship, intimidation, and mismanagement, undermining public confidence in local government institutions.
At its core, the debacle reflects a wider malaise in Nigerian politics where personal interests, patronage, and access to largesse often take precedence over public service. Instead of legislative debates on policy and development, the council chambers appear consumed by fights over “who gets what.”
The fact that the controversy emerged so early in the council’s tenure is particularly worrying. If left unresolved, the crisis may paralyze the chamber’s ability to deliver on its mandate to the people of Ado-Odo/Ota.
For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), this episode may also signal cracks within the party’s grassroots base, where the distribution of patronage continues to fuel factionalism. Unless reconciliatory efforts are urgently undertaken, the legislative council risks becoming more of a political battlefield than a vehicle for local development.
In the end, the scandal underscores a pressing truth: without transparency, inclusiveness, and a genuine focus on governance, local councils will remain prone to infighting and instability, leaving ordinary citizens as the ultimate losers. Read More
