Lawyers demand annulment of NDDC’s IMC, Advisory c’ttee

Elo Edremoda, Warri

Two lawyers of Niger Delta origin, Akharame Lucky and Edward Brisibe have demanded that a Federal High Court, Abuja, annul the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The lawyers are also seeking an order for the nullifying of the Advisory Council of the commission, recently inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a writ of summons made available to The Nation, the legal practitioners, alongside two groups, Youths Arise for undiluted Leadership and Development Initiative as well as, Riverine Development Initiative, urged the court to declare that the Advisory Council Committee of the NDDC can only advice a validly constituted board of the commission and not a management committee.

The case which was filed on Friday with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/361/2020, has Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, Dr, Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Ibang Etang, Mrs. Caroline Nagbo and Cecilia Akintomide as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th defendants respectively.

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The lawyers in their originating summon, are asking the court to determine whether Nigeria’s President and the 2nd defendant are authorized under the NDDC Act of 2000 or any laws in Nigeria to appoint an IMC or appoint the 4th-8th defendants as interim managing director, executive directors and members of the 3rd defendant.

“Whether the purported appointment of the 4th-8th defendants by the President and 2nd defendant is contrary to the provisions of section 12 of the NDDC act of 2000 and therefore unlawful, ultra vires, null and void.

“Whether the President of Nigeria is authorized under any laws of Nigeria and particularly the NDDC act of 2000 to inaugurate an advisory board for an interim committee of the NDDC not legally composed as provided by law.”

The lawyers who are based in Abuja, noted that despite the approval of a governing board for the commission by the Senate, President Buhari unconstitutionally suspended the inauguration of the board, and retained the services of a management committee to oversee the activities of the interventionist agency.