The Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal on Monday dismissed two appeals filed by Local Government Chairmen loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike. The appeals, marked CA/PH/137M/2024 and CA/PH/145M/2024, were filed by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and six others, challenging the decisions of the lower court regarding the elongation of the council leadership tenure......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
However, the Court of Appeal found the appeals to be without merit and consequently struck them out.
Recall that Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, had amended the local government law and extended the tenure of the 23 local Chairmen that would expired on June 18th, 2024 by six months.
When Governor Siminalayi Fubara declined assent to the Bill, the Lawmakers overrode the Governor and passed the Bill into Law.
A High court had declared the action of the Pro-Wike Lawmakers invalid and asked them to return to status quo which was interpreted differently by both parties, which prompted the police to occupy the 23 LG Headquarters following protests by both camps of the incumbent governor Siminalayi Fubara and those loyal to the FCT Minister.
More to follow…