Court Orders reinstatement of 27 LG Chairmen Sacked by Uzodimma

A Federal High Court Sitting in Owerri, IMO state has ordered the immediate reinstatement of the 27 Chairmen and Councilors of the 27 local government area of the state sacked by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

In a statement signed and released by the Chairman, ALGON, Imo State, Hon. Chief Obidigbo Emeka Osuorji, the Chairmen said “The Federal High Court that sat in Owerri, Imo State and Presided over by Justice Tijjani Ringim on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 had, in a very sound Judgement, declared that the Sacking of the elected Chairmen and Councillors in the 27 LGAs of the State, by His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma was illegal and cannot be allowed to stand. And also declared the Constitution of the Interim Management Committees (IMC) for the LGAs by the governor, as also illegal.

“The Judge equally Ordered that the elected Chairmen and Councillors should go back to their offices immediately, to resume duties and described the Chairmen and members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) as illegal occupants of the Councils.

“The Judge also directed that FAAC should not be releasing the funds for the Local Governments in Imo State until the elected Chairmen and Councillors in whose favour the Judgement was given, have taken charge in the Local Government Councils.

“We welcome this laudable and popular Judgement. The Judgement has once again proven that the Judiciary is a very strong pillar on which the nation’s democracy stands. Indeed, the Judiciary has Continued to beautify and strengthen our democracy with landmark Judgements. We remain grateful to the Judiciary.

“It should be recalled that before now, the Attorney-General of the Federation had written to the governor to allow the elected Chairmen and Councillors to serve their tenures in such Capacities, but the governor went ahead to Sack us. And as responsible Citizens who didn’t want to take the laws into our hands, we had no option, than to approach the Court. And we are happy that the Court had upheld the laws of the land against illegality.

“Aside the letter written by the Attorney-General of the Federation to that effect, the Supreme Court, we are aware, had also ruled against governors Sacking elected Council Chairmen and Councillors. And what shocked us was that, we had rejoiced when Governor Uzodinma came on board having become governor on the platform of APC and we, also elected as Chairmen and Councillors on the tickets of APC. But he still went ahead to Sack us.

“With the Federal High Court Judgement, we expect the governor, being also a frontline beneficiary of Court Judgement, would obey the Judgement, especially when we are all of the same Political Party.

“We pledge our unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support to the governor. Our loyalty to him won’t be in doubt. Our support will also be total. We shall join hands with him to give the good people of Imo State the needed leadership. We shall fully cooperate with him in the overall interest of the State and her people”.