Coalition of opposition lawmakers have raised alarm over allege plans by the out going rivers Local Government Chairmen to obtain a secret injunctions to enable them access to the the local government allocation.
A Statement signed by the a PDP Lawmaker and a member of the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and obtained by our correspondent reads:-
NEW DEVELOPMENT…
ATTENTION TO JUSTICE TSOHO (CJ FEDERAL HIGH COURT)
My attention has been drawn to a hurriedly filled court process with Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024 filed around 3.30pm pm(towards close of work) this evening been 24th May 2024 at the Federal High Court Abuja by the pro-Wike group seeking their usual secret exparte order(the 15th one if granted) to allow them access to the LGA allocation of Rivers LGA even after the expiration of their tenure in the next few days. The suit filled by Abubakar Mahmud Magaji SAN, seeks to allow these men access to the statutory LGA allocation after their tenure has expired a few days from today, but they still want to take the LGA allocation and share it with their paymasters even from their retirement homes.
Wonders shall never end in Nigeria.
Imagine as an LGA chairman, your tenure is expiring in a few days, an illegitimate house of assembly with lawmakers whose seats have been declared vacant changes the law in one bedroom in a village in Emohua and tells you that you can stay in office beyond your constitutional mandate and oath of office until whenever there is another election, even Nkuruziza Burundi couldn’t do that. Then, knowing it’s impossible, you rush to court again, seeking an illegitimate order that will allow you, even after your tenure has expired, to stay in your hideout in Abuja, and the LGA allocation alert will be dropped in your account, for you to share with your cronies. This is total madness and a stupid political dream that is impossible.
I call on the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court and AG to check this suit FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024 and ensure the Federal High Court is not embarrassed again by these desperate Abuja Politicians.
We at the G60 Hqrs are watching closely.
At the expiration of the tenure of the present LGA Chairmen in a few days, nothing on earth can make them parade as LGA Chairmen. The law is the law. You can’t extend your tenure while in office. It has never happened in Nigeria, and you can’t start with Rivers State.
Constitutional democracy is sacred and will be protected.
Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere
Constitutional lawyer and member of the Opposition Lawmaker Coalition