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Court Rejects Former Rivers LG Chairmen’s Request for Tenure Extension

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 17th, 2025.

Court Rejects Former Rivers LG Chairmen’s Request for Tenure Extension

A Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice James Omotosho, has dismissed the request by 21 former Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State seeking an extension of their tenure.

The case, identified as SUIT No. FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024 – CHIDI J. LLOYD & 42 ORS v INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE & 12 ORS, was filed on April 23, 2024, by Chidi J. Lloyd and 20 other former Local Government Council chairmen from Rivers State.

In their suit, Lloyd and his co-plaintiffs sought legal authorization to remain in office beyond the expiration of their three-year term on June 16, 2024. Their claim was based on the controversial Local Government Amendment Law passed by certain members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others, whose membership in the Assembly automatically ended following their defection on December 11, 2023.

However, Justice Omotosho ruled against their application, striking out the suit due to lack of standing. The court ruled that Lloyd and his colleagues were no longer Local Government Chairmen and, as such, had no legal right to continue presenting themselves as such.