The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the oil-producing communities in Bayelsa and Delta States seeking to sack the Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chinedu Ebie, over alleged wrongful appointment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik while dismissing the suit filed by the aggrieved members of the Niger Delta communities, held that the suit lacks merit.
The court while citing Section 24 of the NDDC Act; which states that no suit shall be against any board member, or senior management of the NDDC, however held that the Plaintiffs do not have the right to challenge President Bola Tinubu for appointing Chinedu Ebie, as Chairman of the Board.
The plaintiff had sued President Bola Tinubu, for allegedly violating the NDDC’s Act by appointing Ebie as Chairman of the NDDC.
Part of their argument was predicated on the fact that the Chairman of the board should come from an oil producing community which wasn’t adhered to.
At the last adjourned date, the plaintiffs urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection filed by President Tinubu and the AGF, adding that the court should dismiss the entire case of all the respondents for lacking in merit.
The defendants however, in their respective reply urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.
The trial Judge therefore dismissed the suit on grounds that the plaintiff did not have the locus to initiate the suit in the first place.
The NDDC chairman, Chinedu Ebie has however stressed the urgent need for a holistic and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, urging all stakeholders to shun divisiveness and rally round the present governing board and management in sustaining the unprecedented peace and harmony within the Commission which has become the hallmark of the present leadership since its inauguration about 11 months ago.
In an originating summon the plaintiffs argued that both President Tinubu and the National Assembly contravened the NDDC Act by screening and appointing Ebie Chiedu as NDDC Board Chairman.
The plaintiffs also averred that Ebie’s appointment “was done in error and is against the clear provisions of the law.
They submitted that “the screening and confirmation of the 5th defendant, Ebie, by the Nigerian Senate was also done in error and was against the clear provisions of the law.
They sought for an order of injunction restraining the NDDC from recognizing Ebie as its chairman or allowing him access into its premises for the purpose of beginning or continuing work as its chairman.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
