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Court Order Shakes Soludo Government Over Non-Conduct Of Local Government Elections
Court Order Shakes Soludo Government Over Non-Conduct Of Local Government Elections
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, recently issued a significant order that has sent ripples through the Anambra State administration led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The court mandated that funds meant for the state’s 21 local government councils be withheld from the Soludo government and instead deposited into an interest-bearing account managed by the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court. This will remain in place until the court addresses the substantive motion.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Additionally, the court instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allocation and use of funds received by the Anambra State Government between March 22, 2022, and April 30, 2024. The EFCC is required to submit an investigation report within 30 days.
This court order stems from a lawsuit filed by lawyer Chukwuebuka Mmeni, Esq. The lawsuit challenges the governor’s handling of local government funds and his failure to conduct local government elections as promised.
Background and Immediate Developments
Just before the court’s decision, Governor Soludo dismissed all transition committee chairmen of local government councils in Anambra State. These chairmen were initially appointed for a three-month term in April 2022, following Soludo’s inauguration, with the promise that local government elections would soon be held. However, their terms were extended seven times over two years.
Soludo’s dismissal of these chairmen was initially seen as a positive step towards holding elections. However, hopes were dashed when Soludo solicited nominations from leaders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to replace the sacked chairmen, indicating a continuation of appointed rather than elected officials.
Reactions and Criticisms
The non-conduct of local government elections has sparked significant criticism. Hon. Afam Ogene, a Labour Party member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, condemned the recurring appointment of transition committee members as undermining democratic accountability. Ogene argued that frequent changes in local government administration stymie development and effective resource management.
Valentine Ozigbo, a Labour Party chieftain, accused Soludo of corruption, claiming that funds meant for local governments were used to sustain Soludo’s political structure. Ozigbo noted that an estimated ₦175 billion allocated to the local governments over two years could have significantly improved local infrastructure and services.
Moving Forward
The recent court order has increased pressure on Governor Soludo to hold local government elections. In response, the Anambra State House of Assembly quickly passed a bill to establish the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, which is necessary for conducting local elections. This development suggests that elections may be imminent.
Official Statements
APGA’s National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, emphasized the importance of local government elections and expressed confidence in the governor’s commitment to conducting them. Ezeokenwa highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the local government system through a new public-private-community partnership model, aiming to integrate community leaders into the local government framework.
Conclusion
The court’s intervention and the subsequent political maneuvers indicate a critical juncture for governance in Anambra State. The upcoming months will likely see significant developments as the Soludo administration navigates the court order and the push towards fulfilling its electoral promises.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has approved an upward review of peculiar allowances, welfare benefits, and exit packages for civil servants across Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was disclosed on Friday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, during a press briefing.
She explained that the adjustment applies to workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) as well as the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
According to her, the revised allowances have been designed to cut across all grade levels, ensuring improved earnings for both senior and junior officers.
Further details are expected to be released later.
Taiwo Oyedele has officially taken over as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy following a formal handover from his predecessor, Wale Edun.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The transition, which reportedly took place on Thursday evening, was confirmed in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the statement, the handover was concluded within the timeframe set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his inaugural address, Oyedele pledged to consolidate ongoing reforms while delivering measurable economic outcomes.
He said his administration would prioritise fiscal discipline, transparency, and improved performance across key sectors of the economy.
He also expressed his readiness to work closely with staff of the ministry to strengthen efficiency and service delivery.
Oyedele commended his predecessor, Wale Edun, for his role in advancing Nigeria’s economic reform agenda, and thanked President Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary, Raymond Omachi, alongside the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Mohammed Danjuma, welcomed the new minister and assured him of the full support and cooperation of the ministry’s workforce.
During Edun’s tenure, the ministry implemented several fiscal reforms aimed at improving revenue generation and economic coordination. However, the period also faced challenges, including budget implementation constraints that affected ministries, departments, and agencies.
There were also concerns over outstanding payments owed to pensioners and contractors during the same period.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, and a police officer, Edith Erhunmuuse, after they failed to appear in court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The two defendants were scheduled to be arraigned alongside another accused person, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
They are accused of criminal conspiracy involving the alleged forceful eviction of occupants and damage to property valued at about N300 million.
When the matter was called on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, told the court that although the charge was filed in January 2023, arraignment had repeatedly stalled due to what she described as a consistent pattern of absence by the defendants.
She argued that neither the first nor second defendant had consistently appeared in court or informed the prosecution of their absence, insisting that a bench warrant was necessary to compel attendance.
However, counsel to Victor Giwa, Ogbu Aboje, opposed the application, informing the court that his client was absent due to illness and had submitted medical documentation to support his condition. He also urged the court to hear a pending application before proceeding further.
He asked the court to excuse Giwa’s absence, citing health challenges as the reason for his non-attendance.
In response, the prosecution maintained that arraignment is the proper starting point of any criminal trial, adding that any proceedings before it would be invalid.
The prosecution therefore urged the court to issue a bench warrant to ensure the defendants appear for arraignment.
The third defendant, Cecil Osakwe, was present in court with his lawyer, Farouk Akanbi.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Samira Bature granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the arrest of Victor Giwa, stating that the explanations and medical documents presented amounted to deliberate delay tactics.
The judge noted that the case had suffered repeated delays since it was first filed in 2023 and commenced before her court in July 2024, lamenting that arraignment had still not taken place nearly two years later.
Justice Bature stressed that courts are not venues for delay tactics, adding that the defendants had shown disregard for the judicial process by failing to appear for arraignment.
She further ruled that all pending applications could only be considered after proper arraignment, stating that the court’s jurisdiction in criminal matters becomes fully activated only after that stage.
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