In the aftermath of the declaration of the suspension
of all 18 Local Government Council Chairmen in Edo State by the Edo State House
of Assembly, and the ex-parte order that has been given by a Benin High Court,
and comments by Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation, the
Chairman of Administrative Panel of Inquiry on the Suspended Local Government
Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, Solomon Imohiosen has defended the action of
Governor Monday Okpebholo and the State House of Assembly
Imohiosen made the position of his committee known in
a press statement yesterday. He said: “The attention of the Administrative
Panel of Inquiry on the suspended Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen
of Edo State has been drawn to a particular ex-parte order flying on the social
media.
“It is therefore imperative for the information of the
general public to set the records straight.
“First, the Resolution of the Edo State House Assembly
on the subject matter was made on the 17th of December 2024.
“Upon receipt of the Resolution that same day, the
Governor of Edo State in line with the provisions of Section 20(2) of the Edo
State Local Government Law 2000 constituted our Administrative Panel of Inquiry
and inaugurated our Panel in Government House at about 4pm on the 17th of
December 2024.
“Second, at 5pm on the 17th of December 2024 we had
our inaugural sitting wherein we made the house-keeping rules of our Panel of
Inquiry and laid out our work plan.
“The following day which was 18th of December 2024, we
met with the Leaders of the Legislative Arm/Acting Chairmen and Heads of Local
Government Administration of the 18 Local Government Councils of Edo State.
Letters in respect of the list of documents to be produced were issued to them.
“Third, we were shocked to see the aforesaid ex-parte
order on the socialmeda, which was procured for the Plaintiffs by one Oluwole
Osaze Uzzi, who was a Defendant/Counsel in a similar case before the same Edo
State High Court.
“This brazen act of unethical professional conduct
will be reported to the appropriate authority in due course.
“Fourth, the law is settled that an injunctive order,
albeit ex-parte cannot be issued against an already completed act. We will not
by any means join issues with an inchoate order wherein we and the House of
Assembly, which made the Resolution were not joined as parties.”
The Chairman added that plans were in place to invite
the suspended council bosses for interrogation.
“Finally, the Inquiry has started in earnest, and in
due we will issue out letters to the suspended Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to
defend the allegations against them. Their suspension which was made pursuant
to an extant Law of Edo State remains valid.” Imohiosen stated.
Comments:
Leave a Reply