LG chairpersons’ suspension: Court orders Okpebholo, Edo assembly to maintain status quo

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo, and the house of assembly to maintain the status quo regarding the suspension of 18 LG chairpersons in the state.

On December 17, the Edo house assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said the governor had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.

Moving a motion ex parte on Monday, Anderson Asemota, counsel to the plaintiffs (suspended chairmen), prayed the court to issue an order directing the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo as of December 15, 2024, before his clients were suspended.

The lawyer argued that the supreme court in July 2024 held that state governors had no power to suspend elected LG chairpersons.

He alleged that the suspension of the LG chairpersons stemmed from their disagreement with the governor to operate a joint account against the apex court decision.

Asemota said the plaintiffs had approached the court so as not to resort to self-help.

“Extreme urgency is required, my lord,” the lawyer told the court.

He also referenced an order of an Edo state high court restraining the defendants from going ahead with the suspension and an interview by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, regarding the suspension.

Asemota, who said section 2 (1) of the Constitution confers the power on the court to make the order, asked the judge to grant their reliefs.

Delivering the ruling, Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, said extreme carefulness needed to be exercised in granting the reliefs.

“After listening to counsel to the applicants and going through the affidavit evidence, including the written address, I hereby make an order that parties should maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the judge held.

The matter has been adjourned to January 20 for hearing of the substantive suit.

The suspended 18 LG chairmen and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed the motion ex-parte.

In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1952/V/2024 and filed on December 24, 2024, the chairpersons and the PDP sued the speaker of Edo house of assembly, the assembly, the governor, and the state government as first to fourth defendants.

Also joined in the suit are Edo state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, the AGF, and inspector-general of police as the fifth to seventh defendants, respectively.