OYSG Puts Feb 11 LG Polls On Hold Due To Interim Court Order – Attorney General

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By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
OyoSstate Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Oluseun Abimbola said the state government would abide by all the orders in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/16/2017 resulting in the interim injunction on the creation of the 35 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) restricting the state from conducting local governments’ election pending determination by the court.
The Commissioner who dropped this hint in Ibadan while addressing a press briefing at the governor’s office, quickly declared that the state government would vigorously contest the legality of the interim injunction.
He pointed out that the interim injunction among other things bordered on the welfare of the entire citizens of Oyo state, payment of salaries and grassroots development.
“Meanwhile, we are going to abide by the interim order and that puts the conduct of the already scheduled February 11, 2017 local government election on hold. The nation’s electoral body has been directed not to release the voters’ register and without this, there cannot be election. We want to reassure the citizens that election will hold as soon as we settle the court case. We urge the citizens to be law abiding and be peaceful in their endeavours” he said.
According to the Attorney General, the orders directing the 2nd (Accountant General of the Federation), 3rd (Central Bank of Nigeria) 4th (Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission) and 5th  (Federal Ministry of Finance) defendants to warehouse in an interest yielding account, all monies and or allocations belonging to the distorted 33 constitutionally recognised local governments in Oyo State, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice was an ambush on the allocation meant for the local governments in the state which would affect the welfare of the people, payment of salaries and the development of the grassroots.
“Fifteen (15) claimants filed actions on behalf of some villages in some LGs in Oyo and 10 defendants have been joined in the suit which include the Oyo State Government, Oyo State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission,  Federal Ministry of Finance, Independent National Electoral Commission, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission and Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo.
“The suit emanated based of the grievances of these plaintiffs on the creation of LCDAs in about two local governments in Oyo Town. They submitted their petitions to the LCDAs Petitions Review Committee headed by me like other aggrieved parties and they have made their presentations. Our committee has been sitting and complaints have been reviewed”.
Speaking further, he said “however, we are surprised that the state government is taken to court over the issue they have made presentations on. They have the right to do so under that the provision of the constitution and the legality of the orders will be rigorously contested by the government”.
Barrister Abimbola however asked the citizens of Oyo state to be peaceful and law abiding, adding that local governments election would still hold but not until the judicial process affecting its conduct dealt with.

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