A Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the House of Assembly and other parties in a suit filed by the 18 suspended local government chairmen in the state to maintain the status quo, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave an order following a motion ex-parte moved by Anderson Asemota, counsel to the plaintiffs, who are LG chairmen suspended by the state’s house of assembly.
Asemota sought an order directing the parties to maintain status quo as at December 15, 2024, arguing that the Supreme Court had held in July 2024 that state governors had no power to suspend elected LG chairmen.
Asemota claimed that the LG chairmen’s suspension resulted from their dispute with the governor over operating a joint account, contrary to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He stated that the plaintiffs sought the court’s intervention to protect their constitutional rights and avoid resorting to self-help.
Asemota requested that the court issue a status quo order from December 15, 2024, and prevent the governor from enforcing the assembly’s resolution, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
He informed the court that the order suspending the 18 chairmen was issued on December 17, 2024. The lawyer stated that the Supreme Court judgment, the Edo State High Court order restraining the defendants, and an interview with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, were all included in the motion. Asemota, citing Section 2(1) of the Constitution, requested that the court grant their reliefs.
Justice Nwite, who said extreme carefulness needed to be exercise in granting the reliefs, said: “I will only make order for parties to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit.”
The judge ruled that parties should maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, after listening to counsel and reviewing affidavit evidence.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until January 20 for hearing of the substantive suit. The 18 local government chairmen and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed a motion ex-parte against the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Edo State House of Assembly, Executive Governor of Edo State, and Government of Edo State.
Also joined in the suit include the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State; Attorney-General of the Federation and Inspector-General of Police as 5th to 7th defendants respectively.
They sought an order of interim injunction compelling or directing the 1st to 5th defendants, their servants, agents, privies, any person, institution or successors howsoever called, acting or purporting to act on their behalf to maintain status quo ante bellum, as at 15th December, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive suit, filed contemporaneously with this application.
They sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 3rd to 5th defendants, their servants, agents, privies from further acting on the resolution of the assembly, suspending the plaintiffs and their deputies pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed contemporaneously with this application.
