BEVERLY HILLS, May 07, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court on Friday described the dissolution of local governments in Oyo State and their replacement with caretaker committees as illegal.
The incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde upon assuming office sacked elected local government executives in Oyo state.
According to the Supreme Court, Makinde erred by dissolving elected council officials.
It therefore declared the action as null and void.
The court ruled that all the dissolved council chairmen and councillors should receive full salaries and allowances, and gave the Attorney General of Oyo state up to August to ensure compliance with the judgement.
It also awarded a cost of N20 million against the state.
Reacting to the development, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said, “With the unsparing, unequivocal and unambiguous’ judgement by the highest court in the land, it has now become crystal clear that no state government has the power to sack any elected council Chairman or Councillor, as correctly envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
He commended the gallantry of the local government chairmen under the leadership of Prince Abass Ayodeji Alesinloye, stressing that their steadfastness and doggedness eventually paid off, not only for themselves but for democracy as an institution at the grassroots.
The Minister also praised their legal team led by Chief Niyi Akintola for a thorough and painstaking legal battle fought for the sake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the cause of democracy.
About the Author
