Court Nullifies 33 Ondo LCDAs

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

Akeredolu shortly before his demise had assented to the bill presented to him by the speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Oladiji Olamide, during a ceremony at the governor’s residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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

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

The Assembly had passed the bill for the creation of the 33 additional councils on August 15, 2023, which the administration of Governor Akeredolu signed in September last year.

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The 33 LCDAs were to co-exist with the 18 LGAs, bringing the total number of local councils in the state to 51.

Reacting to the judgement, the claimants, Akoko Development Initiative, said, “We hope that the outcome of this process will serve as a guide to the government and the people of our 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 the statement signed by Hon.  Bakitta Bello, Mr. Lawal Rogbitan and Matthew Ofosile, they said, “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.’’