Stop running NDDC with sole administrators, court orders FG
[From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa]
Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Wednesday, ordered the Federal Government to stop the use of Sole Administrators to run the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The court further directed the Federal Government to stop the moves to place the commission under any ministry.
Justice Isa Dashen delivered the ruling in suit number FHC/YNG/CS/135/2021 filed by Niger Delta groups identified as the Wailing Women of the Niger Delta represented by its Coordinator Odighonin Nwadighi Adienbo, the Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI) led by Livingstone Wechie and Nine others against Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Dashen granted the exparte Order sought by the groups restraining the federal government from placing the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC under any Ministry.
The lead Counsel for the groups, Prof. Festus Emiri (SAN), had challenged the legality of the appointment of a Sole Administrator/Interim Management Committee for the NDDC which he contended is at variance with the NDDC Act and asked the Court to invalidate same.
The plaintiffs are also asking the Court to order the federal government to publish the Forensic Audit report on the NDDC which was submitted sometime in 2021 as well as a declaration that the NDDC should be allowed to run independently without being directly placed under any Ministry.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday the management of the NDDC through their counsel filed a motion seeking that the commission be joined in the ongoing suit.
Justice Isa Dashen however adjourned further hearing in the suit till May 17,2022 in order to entertain the motion moved by the NDDC for it to be joined in the suit.
Other reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in the Exparte motion include an order that the Attorney-General of the Federation representing the Federal Government should not place the NDDC under any ministry and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government from constituting an Interim/Sole Administrator Board to run the affairs of the NDDC.
