Breaking News: Court Order On Non-Conduct Of LG Polls Shakes Soludo Government

Breaking News: Court Order On Non-Conduct Of LG Polls Shakes Soludo GovernmentLast week, a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, issued an order preventing the federal government from transferring funds owed to the 21 local government councils in Anambra State to the administration led by Prof.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Chukwuma Soludo. Instead, the court directed that the funds be deposited into an interest-bearing account managed by the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court until the substantive Motion on Notice is heard.Additionally, the court instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to summon and interrogate relevant officers of the Anambra State Government concerning the use of funds received from March 22, 2022, to April 30, 2024, during Soludo’s tenure.

The EFCC must submit an affidavit of compliance, including the investigation report, within 30 days.This order stems from a lawsuit filed against the Anambra State governor by lawyer Chukwuebuka Mmeni, Esq.Just a week before the judgment, Soludo issued letters dismissing all transition committee chairmen of the local government councils in the state with immediate effect.

These chairmen, appointed as Transition Committee Chairmen in April 2022 shortly after Soludo became governor, were initially meant to serve for three months in preparation for local government elections, as promised in Soludo’s 2021 manifesto.

However, their tenure was extended seven times every three months before they were finally dismissed.While many saw the dismissal of the chairmen as a positive step toward council polls, their hopes were dashed when Soludo called for nominations from leaders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in various local government areas to replace the dismissed chairmen.

This move was particularly contentious since Anambra lacks a State Independent Electoral Commission, which is responsible for conducting elections.In response to the failure to conduct elections, Hon. Afam Ogene, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, condemned any plans to appoint a new set of administrators.