The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sacked Prof Kemebradikumo
Pondei, Mr Cairo Ojougboh, and others from functioning on the Board of
the Niger Delta Development Commission.
In a suit numbered ABJ/CS/617/2020, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling
on an application by a Civil Society Organisation, Forum for
Accountability and Good Governance, restrained them from parading
themselves as board members of the NDDC.
Daily Trust reports that the court also granted leave to the applicant
to apply for a judicial review of the power of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Minister of the Niger Delta to
appoint Pondei, Ojougboh and others in an interim capacity as members of
the NDDC Board.
The judge also granted leave to the applicant to apply for judicial
review for an Order of Mandamus compelling the ICPC, sued as the 9th
Defendant in the suit, to investigate the Minister of Niger Delta, Sen.
Godswill Akpabio, and the five members of the Board over allegations of
N3billion contract fraud.
By this order of the court, the members of the NDDC Board are restrained
from performing the functions of the board pending the hearing and
determination of the motion on notice which is fixed for Dec. 8, 2020.
The plaintiff in the suit said it had notified President Muhammadu
Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, the Department of State Services, the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the ICPC of an interim
vacancy in the commission.
The plaintiff also urged that the most senior civil servant or
administrator in the commission be appointed while praying that the
suspended officers be stopped from accessing the commission’s offices
and files as they could tamper with evidence which could be used by the
ICPC in its probe.
Parties joined in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation,
the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Minister of the Niger
Delta, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Dr Joi Nunieh, Mrs
Caroline Nagbo, Cecilia Bukola Akintomide and the Independent Corrupt
Practices and other related offences commission.