Court Rejects Plea To Stop Fayemi From Dissolving Councils

An application filled by the local government chairmen in Ekiti State to stop the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, from dissolving the 16 local government councils was on Friday rejected by an Ekiti State High Court. The local government chairmen in the state had approached the court seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop Fayemi from removing them from office when he assumes duty as the state governor.

They were led in the suit by the state Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman, Dapo Olagunju. Justice Abiodun Adesodun, who presided over the hearing dismissed the application saying it was unmeritorious, pre-emptive and speculative.

Justice Adesodun said there is no compelling fact in the application to warrant the granting of the order. The council chiefs in the suit are being represented in the case by, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, while Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye appeared for Fayemi. Counsel to the defendant (Fayemi) challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the application on grounds that the matter was speculative.

The suit was filed owing to the impending change of government on Tuesday, October 16. The judge subsequently adjourned the substantive matter to October 22.