An Edo State High Court sitting in Igarra in the AKoko-Edo local government area on Wednesday declared the impeachment of the chairman of the local government, Hon. Tajudeen Alade as illegal and ordered his immediate reinstatement.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice E. A. Okoh, also directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to provide the reinstated chairman with needed security to resume office.
Justice Okoh also ruled that the court has jurisdiction over the matter against the state government’s challenge that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
In the suit marked B/30os/2025 between the plaintiffs, Hon SulemanTajudeen Alade and Hon Mrs Beatrice Abukare against the councillors comprising Honourables Alabi Oshionogue, Tope Jacon, Akosile Imashimi, Pendo Adeche, Afolabi Monday as well as Akoko-Edo local government legislative council, Akoko-Edo local government council, the Vice Chairman of Akoko-Edo local government council and the Inspector General of Police as defendants, Alade sought the court’s declaration nullifying his purported impeachment, among several other demands.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the reinstated Chairman, Asmota Anderson hailed the judgement.
“In the eye of the law, no impeachment was ever done in the first place. The court found that there was indeed non-compliance with the procedure stipulated under Section 19 of the Edo State local government law and that the man was not given a fair hearing before his removal and the court now went further to declare that the removal was unlawful and not in compliance with the constitution of the land and therefore null and void.
“The court set aside the removal and ordered his immediate restoration and return to office; it is a declarative judgment, and implementation takes effect immediately,” Anderson said.
When contacted, Edo State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Lucky Esiegbe said the government has filed for a stay of execution and already filed an appeal against the judgement, saying that the judgment would not stand.
He further expressed optimism that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling.
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