A high court in Edo has ordered the reinstatement of
suspended local government chairpersons and their deputies in the state.
Efe Ikponmwonba, the presiding judge, on Friday, restrained
Monday Okpebholo, governor of the state, and the attorney-general of the state
from acting on the resolution of the Edo house of assembly.
According to PUNCH, the suit was filed by the suspended LGA
officials.
Ikponmwonba ordered that the status quo as of December 12 be
maintained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed
on the same day.
The judge adjourned the case to February 17, 2025, for
hearing and ordered that a notice be issued and served on the respondents.
On Tuesday, the Edo house assembly suspended the
chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.
Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the house, had said Okpebholo
wrote a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit
the financial records of their councils to the state government.
Reacting to the development on Thursday, Lateef Fagbemi, the
attorney-general of the federation, said state houses of assembly lack the
power to suspend or remove council chairpersons.
He said local government chairpersons cannot be removed or
suspended by any governor without following due process.
The AGF added that only the legislature at the local
government level has the power to remove the chairpersons.
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