Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu Over Appointment Of NDDC Board Chair

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the appointment of Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The suit, filed against President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Attorney-General of the Federation, the NDDC, and Ebie himself, was dismissed on Thursday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who ruled the case as statute-barred.

The plaintiffs, representing oil-producing communities in Bayelsa and Delta, claimed that Ebie’s appointment, made on August 29, 2023, violated the provisions of the NDDC Act.
They argued Ebie does not hail from the region with the highest oil output, thus making him ineligible for the role. The plaintiffs filed the suit on January 11, past the three-month period required by law for contesting such appointments, thereby violating Sections 24(1) and (2) of the NDDC Act.

Justice Abdulmalik stressed the plaintiffs’ procedural missteps, highlighting their failure to seek the court’s approval for a judicial review of President Tinubu’s decision before initiating the suit.
The judge concluded that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the plaintiffs’ requests due to improper filing and deemed their case as “academic,” thereby dismissing all reliefs sought.

Following the ruling, Ebie welcomed the decision, describing it as “well-considered, intelligently delivered, and courageously sound.” He expressed gratitude to the judiciary for upholding justice, saying the verdict strengthens his resolve to contribute to the Niger Delta’s growth and development.