Our reporter
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to hear a case filed by the suspended chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State.
The case, which was brought before the court by the aggrieved council Chairmen, was dismissed after Justice Emeka Nwite confirmed that the matter would be transferred to the Benin Division of the Federal High Court.
The case stems from a legal dispute regarding the suspension of the chairmen and the interpretation of Edo State’s Local Government Laws. The suspended chairmen, along with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), filed a motion seeking an interlocutory injunction in an attempt to challenge the legality of their removal.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling on Monday, stated that the Federal High Court in Abuja did not have territorial jurisdiction over the case, as the defendants and the subject matter were based in Edo State. The judge also instructed the parties to maintain the status quo until the matter could be heard in Benin.
This decision has raised questions about the appropriateness of the jurisdictional transfer, with some legal experts noting that the ruling could have significant implications for the proceedings. A senior lawyer, who spoke anonymously, suggested that the transfer could complicate the case, potentially prolonging the legal process.
The suspended chairmen and the PDP had filed the motion on 24 December 2024, with the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Governor of Edo State, and several other key officials named as defendants. The case will now be heard in Benin on 20 January 2025, as the parties prepare for the next stage in their legal battle.
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