A Benin High Court on Thursday ordered the Edo Government to reinstate Mr Osaro Obazee as the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo.
Justice Esohe Ikponmwen in his judgment said that relevant sections of the constitution were not followed before Obazee was suspended from office.
The court also cleared the council chairman from allegations of financial recklessness leveled against him, as reason for his suspension.
Obazee had instituted a legal action against Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, insisting that the governor has no powers to suspend him as the democratically elected chairman of the council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Oshiomhole suspended Obazee and four other council chairmen from office in June 2015.
They were suspended over alleged diversion of Internally Generated Revenue, illegal employment, inability to pay workers’ salaries among others.
According to Obazee, Oshiomhole cannot suspend him without giving him a fair hearing in accordance with Sections 7(1), and 36(1) of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended
Joined in the suit were the Attorney- General of Edo and Edo State House of Assembly.
The judgment is coming less than a week to the expiration of the tenure of democratically elected council chairmen in Edo. (NAN)
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