The Parliament Diary

Edo State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku and the Eighteen local government Acting Chairmen has originated a summons against the embattled impeached Chairmen at the State High Court for themselves and on behalf of other Councillors in the Eighteen Local Government Councils of the Edo State.

The summons dated 28th day of January 2025 with SUIT NO: B/3405/2025 is seeking a declaration that the suspension of the 18 local government council chairmen and their Vice Chairmen by the 1st Claimant (Edo State House Of Assembly) on 17/12/2024 has not in any way obliterated or wipe out the existence of the democratic structure/ system of local government council in Edo State and therefore the democratic system of local government council, its structure, administration and governance is still intact and in place.

They are also seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 20 (b) of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the 1st Claimant (Edo State House of Assembly) has the power to suspend a chairman and/or vice chairman of a local government council in Edo State.

The originating summons reads, ” A declaration that by the combined reading of the provisions of Sections 11 (3) and Section 14 of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the 3rd – 19th claimants (Leader (s) of the Legislative Arms of the local government councils in Edo State) are democratically elected members of the local government council.

“A declaration that by the provisions of Section 20 (c) of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the 3rd 19th claimants (who are also democratically elected members of the council) are entitled to act on behalf of the council in
the absence of the Chairman or Vice Chairman particularly with regards to the administration, management and/or control of the affairs of the local government Councils and all the funds due to the local government council.

” A declaration that the 3rd 19th claimants as Leader (s) of the Legislative Arms of their respective local government councils in Edo State, who are democratically elected members and representatives of the people of the local government, are entitled to operate the bank accounts of the local government councils domiciled in any bank in Nigeria for the benefit of the people of their respective local government councils.

“An order directing the 19th, 20th and 22nd defendants to allow the 3rd – 19th claimants to access the funds due to the respective Local Government Councils for the purpose of applying the said funds for the benefit of the people of the respective Local Government Councils, Edo State.

“An order of injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies or whatever name called, from interfering and/or meddling with the affairs, administration, management and control of the local government councils.

” An order restraining the defendants, their agents, privies or whatever name called from operating the bank accounts of the local government councils or interfering/meddling with the funds/finances of the council or stopping banks from honouring cheques from the local government councils.

“And for such further order or any other orders as this honorable court may deem fit to make in all the circumstances of this case.

The case is between the 1. EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

  1. SPEAKER, EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
  2. RT. HON. OGHUMA SOLOMON EMMANUEL(ETSAKO EAST)
  3. RT. HON. NOSAKHARE EDOBOR(OVIA SOUTH WEST)
  4. RT. HON. JOLLY OBOSA OGBEIDE (ΙΚΡΟВА-ОКНА)
  5. RT. HON. IGBINAKE OMORUYI (OVIA NORTH-EAST)
  6. RT. HON. IREDIA BENJAMIN OSAS (UHUMWONDE)
  7. RT. HON. OKWILAGUE OMORUAYE VALENTINE (ETSAKO WEST)
  8. RT. HON. KELVIN IGHODARO (EGOR)
  9. RT. HON. OSARIEMEN DANIEL (ORHIONMWON)
  10. RT. HON. PAUL AKHERE UHOMESILI (ESAN NORTH EAST)
  11. RT. HON. HENSHAW ELIMIHE (IGUEBEN)
  12. RT. HON. JOY OLO OHONYON (OWAN WEST)
  13. RT. HON. ARUNA MOHAMMED (OWAN EAST)
  14. RT. HON. ALABI BLISS OSHIONOGUE (AKOKO EDO)
  15. RT. HON. MOSES EDOH (ESAN SOUTH EAST)
  16. RT. HON. YAKUBU CEPHAS (ETSAKO CENTRAL)
  17. RT. HON. GODSENT AGBOIBO (ESAN WEST)
  18. RT. HON. KELVIN IYERE (ESAN CENTRAL)

(For Themselves And On Behalf Of Other Councillors In The Eighteen Local Government Councils, Edo State)

AND

  1. HON. NEWMAN OGHOMWEN UGIAGBE
  2. HON. ERIC OSAYANDE
  3. HON. EGHE OGBEMUDIA
  4. HON. ZIBIRI MARVELLOUS
  5. HON. LOUIS SUCCESS
  6. HON. PRINCE A. OKODO-KADIRI
  7. HON. PAUL IYOHA
  8. HON. SOLOMON ΟΒΟΜKHIE
  9. HON. TOM OBASEKI
  10. HON. AHONSI DICKSON
  11. HON. SULEMAN TAJUDEEN ALADE
  12. HON. KELLY INEDEGBOR
  13. HON. CLEMENT ASUELIMEN
  14. HON. COLLINS OSAMEDE OGBEWE

CLAIMANTS

DEFENDANTS

  1. HON. EDOSA ENOWOGHOMWENMA
  2. HON. KENNETH OSAROBO ADODO
  3. HON. COLLINS AIGBOGUN
  4. HON. BENEDICTA ATTOH
  5. THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE
  6. THE GOVERNMENT OF EDO STATE
  7. ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, EDO STATE
  8. ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL, EDO STATE
  9. PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY AND CHIEFTANCY AFFAIRS, EDO STATE.

QUESTIONS FOR DETERMINATION

  1. Whether having regard to the provisions of Section 20 (b) of the Local Government Law, 2000, the Edo State House of Assembly does not have the power to suspend a chairman and/or the vice chairman of a local government council in Edo state.
  2. Whether, having exercised the powers donated to it by Section 20 (b) of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the action of the Edo State House Of Assembly taken on 17/12/2024 suspending the 18 local government chairmen and/or Vice Chairmen in Edo State has obliterated and/or wipe out the existence of the democratic structure/system of local government councils in Edo State.
  3. Whether by the combined reading of the provisions of Sections 11 (3) and Section 14 of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the Leader (s) of the Legislative Arms of the local government councils in Edo State are not democratically elected members of the council.
  4. Whether by the provisions of Section 20 (c) of the Local Government Law, 2000, Edo State, the leader (s) of the Legislative Arms of the Local Government Council (who by Section 11 (3) of the local government law, 2000, are also democratically elected members of the Council) are not entitled, in the absence of the chairman and vice chairman, to act on behalf of the Council particularly with regards to the administration, management and/or control of the affairs of the local government council and all the funds due to the local government Council.
About Author

admin2

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *