A businessman based in Benue State, Sesugh Akume, has prayed a high court in the state to nullify the law empowering governors to “arbitrarily” suspend local government chairmen.
In a suit dated August 27, Akume prayed the court to declare that section 62 of the local government law, 2007, contradicts the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
The section authorises the suspension of local government chairman accused of corruption.
Joined as first and second respondents in the suit are Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, and the state attorney-general.
Akume argued that such a provision does not give the local government chairmen fair hearing and is against the fundamental rights of fair hearing and presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
He also sought an order that there are no known statutorily deductions from funds standing to the account of local government areas in the state except as strictly stated in the local government law.
The only statutory deductions to be made from the funds as stated in the law are towards the pension fund and the local government training fund.
In the affidavit deposed in his application, Akume said: The governor or deputy governor or any person acting through him is in no position nor has discretionary powers to exercise in the appropriation, distribution of public funds already distributed to the local governments according to statute.”
Due to outstanding payments, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a strong warning…
Tension remains high in Rivers State as residents woke up on Saturday to the news…
Chief Munir Balogun, father of Afrobeats star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has spoken…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has yielded to pressure from lawmakers by conferring the Grand Commander…
The Rivers State Police Command has clarified the reasons for its operatives' presence at the…
Operatives of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps have apprehended a couple for allegedly breaking into…