An Edo State High Court has ordered the restoration of the 18 suspended Local Government Area Council Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen in Edo State.
Recall that the Edo State House of Assembly on the orders of the State Governor, suspended the 18 Local Government Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen for insubordination.
The suspended Chairmen, however, maintained that the Governor and the State Assembly does not have to constitutional powers to suspend them from office. Therefore, they approached the court.
However, on Friday, December 20, 2024, the court, presided by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, issued an order quashing the suspension.
Ruling on the suit filed by the embattled 18 LGA Chairmen and the Edo State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Justice Ikponmwonba overruled the suspension order by the Assembly.
The defendants in the case were the Edo State Government, Edo State Governor, Deputy Governor, the Attorney-General of Edo State, the Accountant-General of Edo State and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The judge granted the claimants/applicants prayers by restraining the defendants from acting on the resolution of the Edo State House.
The court also ordered that the status quo as at December 12, 2024 be maintained. This is pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on December 12, 2024.
The judge, therefore, adjourned the suit to February 17, 2025, for hearing. He also ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the defendants.
IVNTVNEWS reported that the Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the 18 LG Chairmen and their deputies. The House suspended the elected Chairmen and their deputies over allegation of misconduct and insubordination by the Governor.
Recall that Governor Monday Okpebholo, had petitioned the lawmakers on the allegation of insubordination and misconduct against the LG Chairmen.
Okpebholo accused the 18 Chairmen for failing to submit their LGAs’ financial statements to him.
This is even as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had faulted the suspension.
The AGF described the suspension as unconstitutional. He warned that no governor or State Assembly can remove elected LG Chairmen or officials.
Fagbemi pointed out that the power to remove elected officials at the Local Government Council lies with the legislative arm.
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