A High Court sitting in Benin city, the Edo State capital, has granted an application to restore the suspended Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Govt Councils, to their offices.
Ruling in an ex parte motion on Friday, the court restrained the Edo State Government, the Governor, the State Attorney-General and other defendants in the suit, from given effect to the House of Assembly resolution purportedly suspending the Council chairmen and their deputies.
The Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, suspended all the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 local government areas in the State over alleged failure of the council chairmen to submit their yearly stewardship to the state government. The House directed the leaders of the LGAs’ legislative arms to take over the leadership of their respective councils.
On Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) declared the suspension of council chairmen and their deputies, illegal and unconstitutional.
The AGF emphasised that only the Legislature at the Local Government level can suspend an elected Council Chairman or his deputy.
