Rivers crisis: Court reinstates council chairman, others

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday ordered the immediate reinstatement of the suspended Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nsirim, the vice chairman and the 17 councillors of the council.

Nsirim was suspended by the State House of Assembly on April 22, 2013 alongside his vice and the 17 councillors for an alleged mismanagement of council funds.

The House of Assembly also directed that the account of the council be frozen in order to give unfettered chance for investigation into the allegation.

Not satisfied with the development, Nsirim approached the State High Court to challenge his suspension by the state lawmakers.

Ruling on the matter, the presiding judge of the state High Court, Justice Iyayi Lamikanra, described Nsirim’s suspension as illegal, unconstitutional and uncalled for.

Justice Lamikanra, who made reference to Section 7, (1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 64 of Rivers State Local Government law, said the State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had no right to appoint a caretaker committee after the unlawful suspension of the council.

The presiding judge also directed that the sum of N50,000 be paid to each of the claimants for the inconveniences.

Counsel to Nsirim, Mr. Ken Njemanze (SAN), expressed delight at the court’s decision to reinstate his clients.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Jerry Needam, the party described the ruling as a victory over intimidation.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has vowed to challenge the ruling of the State Court, which reinstated the suspended Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Mr. Timothy Nsirim.

The state government maintained that the presiding judge of the State High Court, Justice Iyayi Lamikanra, erred in law over the reinstatement of Nsirim, the council’s vice chairman and 17 councillors.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the state government explained that the trial judge acted in disregard of the Court of Appeal that was still entertaining the matter.