A federal high court in Warri has restrained Lauretta
Onochie, chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, from
carrying out executive functions and the day-to-day running of the agency.
In a judgment delivered on May 9, Okon Abang, presiding
judge, voided all executive actions taken by Onochie since she assumed office
on January 4, 2023.
Abang also nullified the appointment of 18 aides made by the
NDDC board chairman.
Following Onochie’s appointment, one Mike Oberabor
instituted a suit against the NDDC, Onochie and Samuel Ogboku, NDDC’s managing
director, seeking an interpretation of the NDDC act, 2000 and other relevant
statutes and documents relating to the running of the commission.
Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/WR/CS/14/2023,
the judge held that after due consideration of the relevant provisions of the
NDDC act, 2000 and other documents, it was established that Onochie’s
appointment as the chairman of the board on a part-time basis is to oversee and
preside over the meetings of the board.
Abang held that the managing director is “statutorily
empowered by the NDDC act to perform and wield the executive functions, powers
and day-to-day running and management of the commission to the exclusion of
other members of the board of the NDDC including the 2nd defendant (Onochie)
herein”.
Consequently, the judge ordered, “that all actions of the
2nd defendant including but not limited to the appointment of her personal
aides carried out in the exercise of executive functions and powers in the
Niger Delta Development Commission since her assumption of duty on the 4th day
of January 2023 are ultra vires her powers and therefore null and void and of
no effect whatsoever”.
“That the 2nd
defendant is restrained from carrying out and/or exercising any executive
function and powers in the NDDC.
“The 2nd defendant is further restrained from interfering
with the 3rd defendant’s (Ogboku) executive functions, powers and day-to-day
running and management of Niger Delta Development Commission the 1st defendant
herein.”
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