- Earlier, the Edo state house of assembly suspended all 18 elected local government council chairmen over alleged misappropriation of funds.
- The EFCC has also invited the LGA chairs for questioning.
A High Court in Benin has ruled in favor of restoring suspended local government chairmen in Edo State to their positions.
The court’s presiding judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, made this ruling on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Justice Ikponmwonba issued the order while delivering judgment on a suit filed by 18 council chairmen and the Edo State chapter of ALGON.
The defendants in the suit include the Edo State Government, Governor, Deputy Governor, and other top officials.
The judge granted the claimants’ prayers, restraining the defendants from implementing the Edo State House of Assembly’s resolution suspending the chairmen.
The court also ordered that the status quo be maintained until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The judge adjourned the suit to February 17, 2025, and ordered that a hearing notice be served on the defendants.
Recall that the Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the 18 LG chairmen and their deputies over alleged misconduct.
The lawmakers’ decision followed a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo accusing the chairmen of insubordination.
Okpebholo alleged that the chairmen failed to submit their councils’ financial statements to him.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had described the suspension as unconstitutional.
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