Court Nullifies Creation Of 33 LCDAs In Ondo

The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, nullified the newly created 33 local council development areas (LCDAs) by the administration of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Recall that late Governor Akeredolu shortly before his demise had assented to a Bill on the LCDAs presented to him by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide, during a ceremony at the governor’s private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusuoye, who delivered the ruling, however, declared that the creation of the LCDAs was unconstitutional and illegal.

The court further held that it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state.

It will also be recalled that the Ondo State House of Assembly had passed the Bill for the creation of the 33 LCDAs on August 15, 2023, which the then Governor Akeredolu signed into law in September last year.

The 33 LCDAs were to co-exist with the constitutionally-created 18 local government areas (LGAs), bringing the total number of local councils in the state to 51.

Reacting to the court judgement, the claimants, Akoko Development Initiative (ADI), said: “We hope that the outcome of this process will serve as a guide to the government and the people of our Sunshine State in the handling of our public affairs in the future, beginning from now. We should understand and implement our statutes for the good of all, without fear or favour and focus, at all times, on fairness, equity and justice to build, jointly, the egalitarian society that we deserve.”

In a statement jointly signed by ADI’s Rt. Hon. Bakitta Bello, Mr Lawal Rogbitan and Matthew Ofosile, they noted that “Our suit before His Lordship Hon. Justice Adegboyega O.Adebusoye, therefore, raised 12 questions for determination, among which were: whether by Section 8, subsection (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the law purportedly creating 33 Local Council Development Areas across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State was valid in the absence of a request for such creation by at least 2/3 majority of members representing Akoko Land in the House of Assembly as well as 2/3 majority of members of the Legislative Councils in Akoko Land; whether the creation of the purported 33 Local Council Development Areas Law 2023, which did not take into cognizance the principles of population spread, Justice, equity and fairness is not illegal, unlawful and therefore null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“In the suit, we prayed to the Court for the grant of a total of 18 reliefs among which was an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from acting upon or in any manner giving effect or seeking to give effect to the Ondo State Local Government Council Development Areas Law 2023, passed by the 3rd Defendant and assented to by the 1st Defendant in a manner and form which it is presently constituted.

“We are happy that we took the trouble, against all odds, to prosecute the matter to this remarkable level, as a people. We believe that our action this far was the civilized thing to do, to sustain our democracy and ensure peace and development. We are equally grateful that the outcome of the case has vindicated us.

“The Court did not only make informed declarations that support our position, it granted sufficient reliefs to safeguard the aspirations of the Akoko people and indeed, other ethnic groups in Ondo State to coexist with one another in a peaceful environment conducive to even and sustainable development in our political, social, religious and economic life.

“We do not take for granted that justice will come to us on a platter of gold. We are, therefore resolute and determined, to always fight for it, no matter the obstacles that may come and the quarter from which they may emerge.”