A State High Court in Edo State has issued an order for the restoration of the 18 local council chairmen who were recently suspended. The court’s ruling was made on Friday, December 20, 2024, by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba.
The court’s decision follows a suit filed by the suspended chairmen and the Edo State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). The defendants in the case are the Edo State Government, Governor, Deputy Governor, Attorney-General, Accountant-General, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Community, and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Justice Ikponmwonba granted the plaintiffs’ request to restrain the defendants from acting on the suspension resolution passed by the Edo State House of Assembly, which had earlier suspended the local council chairmen. The court also ordered that the status quo as of December 12, 2024, be maintained until the motion on notice filed on that date is heard and determined.
The case has been adjourned to February 17, 2025, for hearing, with the judge instructing that a hearing notice be issued and served on the defendants.
The Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the 18 local council chairmen and their deputies over allegations of misconduct and insubordination. Governor Monday Okpebholo had accused the chairmen of failing to submit their LGAs’ financial statements, leading to the suspension.
Additionally, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, criticized the suspension, calling it unconstitutional.
