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.
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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.
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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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