PRP drags Gov. Emmanuel to court over LG Transition Committees

 The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has dragged Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, the state House of Assembly, and others to a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, over the legality of constituting another transition committee to run the affairs of the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.

In a case with suit number FHC/UY/g/79/16, the State Chairman of the party, Rev. Aniebiet Ime Emmanuel seeks the court to declare that “The Akwa Ibom State Local Government amendment Law 2016 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever; That the 1st Defendant (Gov. Emmanuel) cannot select, appoint or set up persons as Transition Committee for the Local Government Administration in the 31 Local Government councils of the state; that the Transition Committees set up are unlawful, constitutional illegalities and therefore non- existent in the eyes of the law; a declaration by the honourable court that it is only a democratically elected system of local government, as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that can lawfully stand and operate in the state.

An order of the court to dissolve the committees set up; an order of perpetual injunction restraining the governor and the state government, from further selecting, appointing or setting up Transition Committees or caretaker committees for the administration of the 31 Local Government council in the state.

They also sought an order from the court restraining Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Committee and the Federal Government of Nigeria, to immediately withhold in the federation’ account, all monies and revenues meant for the local government system in  Akwa Ibom State, pending the conduct of election into the 31 Local Government Areas of the State; An order compelling the state government to render account and make refund to the federation account, all monies and revenues collected from 4th July, 2016 till date from Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Federal Government of Nigeria; That the state government should conduct elections into the 31 local government councils within the period of three months after final judgment in the case, inter alia.