Stakeholders in the Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) pending the hearing and determination of their suit.
The plaintiffs in the case former Clerk of the National Assembly and Chairman Board of Trustees of Ugboland Development Congress, Asiwaju Oluyemi Ogunyomi, the trustee Mr. Adebowale Karaki and Secretary Dr. Mann Ali.
The other plaintiffs are Incorporated Trustees of Ilaje Advancement Forum, Mr. Idowu Mafimisebi, Mr. Olaniran Obele and Mr. Ige Asemudara, all lawyers representing Ilaje Lawyers Forum.
They filed the suit on Tuesday at the Abuja headquarters of the Federal High Court through their counsel Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
According to a statement by Adegboruwa, the Ppaintiffs are seeking, among others, an order of injunction to restrain the President from inaugurating, recognising or dealing with Mr. Charles B. Ogunmola as the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC, arguing that he he is from Owo in the northern axis of Ondo State and not an indigene of the oil producing area of the state.
The other defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Mr. Charles B. Ogunmola.
Adegboruwa said: “Specifically, the Plaintiffs are seeking AN ORDER OF INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION restraining the 1st – 4th Respondents whether by themselves, their servants or agents and/ or privies from taking any step or further step in treating and/ or dealing with or in any manner according the 5th Respondent the status of Executive Director of Projects of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, pending the hearing and final determination of the Originating Summons.
“AN ORDER OF INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION restraining the 5th Respondent from presenting himself out or in any manner parading himself or performing the functions and duties of Executive Director of Projects of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, pending the hearing and final determination of the Originating Summons herein.
“AN ORDER directing the parties herein, whether by themselves, their agents, servants or otherwise howsoever to maintain the status quo ante bellum in respect of the exercise of the statutory duties of the 1st and 3rd Respondents in appointment of an Executive Director of Projects of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, pending the hearing and final determination of the Originating Summons filed herein.
“AN ORDER OF INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants or agents and/ or privies from taking any step(s) in relation to or that may jeopardize, affect, ridicule the fair and just determination of the subject matter and issues surrounding the substantive matter, pending the hearing and final determination of the Originating Summons herein.
“In the main Originating Summons, the Plaintiffs are challenging the appointment of Mr. Charles B. Ogunmola on the ground that it is in violation of section 12 (1) of the NDDC Act wherein it is specifically stated that the Managing Director and the Executive Directors of the NDDC must be indigenes of the oil producing areas.
“No date has been assigned for the hearing of the suit, which has been served upon the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation.”
