You can’t reduce council chiefs’ tenure, court tells Niger
Adefarasin, Mo Abudu, Davido, others get Glazia persons of the year award
ANew Bussa High Court in Niger State yesterday ruled that the state government has no right to reduce the tenure of elected local council chairmen and councilors from three to two years.
This followed the suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), 14 political parties and five councilors over the reduction of the tenure of local councils in state.
The case was filed against the state government and the House of Assembly.
The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, ruled that the Assembly in particular lacked the powers to amend the local government (Amendment) Laws, 2016 of Niger State published as Niger Legal Notice No1, as it did, which Governor Abubakar Sani Bello signed into law.
The SDP and 19 others had initiated the suit by way of originating summons on November 15, 2017 but amended the process pursuant to an application dated December 7, 2017, which was filed before the court on December 11 and amended on December 14, 2017.
In a 37-page judgment, which lasted almost three hours, Justice Mohammed held that failure of the first defendant to comply with the constitutional requirement of amending the local government law 2001 “rendered the amended law unconstitutional, invalid and lacks legal status.”
On whether or not the first defendant had powers to reduce the tenure of elected local council officials in the state from three years to two years, Justice Mohammed declared that he did not think so.
“On the contrary, it is my humble view that the powers enumerated in sections 4 and 7 of the constitution do not include the power to either extend or reduce the tenure of elected local councils in Niger State.
“Where a law is invalidated, it would be as if it had never been and the old law will subsist,” he ruled.
He added that in this instance where the law was invalidated, the only recourse on tenure would be to the old law.
The Judge declared that the sole issues for determination were resolved in favour of the plaintiffs and consequently granted all the claims of the plaintiffs.
“The defendants, their agents, privies or servants are hereby restrained from taking any action or steps whatsoever pursuant to or giving effect to any of the provisions of the local government (Amendment) law 2016 of Niger State published as Niger State Legal Notice NO 1 of 2016,” Justice Mohammed stated.
AS parts of efforts to recognise individual brands breaking ground in their various respective fields, the Glazia Magazine held its inaugural annual Glazia Persons of the Year summit in Lagos.
It recognised top players in various industries with awards based on their meritorious services and impact on the society in the previous year.
Those honoured include Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, Paul Adefarasin, gospel singer, Mo Abudu and artiste David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, among others who made the final list of 20 persons out of over 200 nominees.
Editor-in-chief, of the magazine, Omawumi Ogbe, said the Glazia Persons Of The Year awards was created to recognise individual brands breaking grounds in their respective fields of endeavour.
“These are distinguished personalities who over the last 12 months have contributed significantly to the development and progress of their immediate and remote spheres of influence, having demonstrated excellence in the areas of passion, progress, profit and power within the period under review,” she added.
Filmmaker and member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot in his opening remarks, noted that, “beyond celebrating the outstanding awardees, today is also about inspiration for growth. Today is about pointing out the facts that help achieve exceptionality and success.”
Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo who was honored with the Pioneer award in the Special Recognition Category, expressed his pleasure at the recognition and what it portends for the industry; adding that Nollywood was here to stay.
Lanre Olusola, Bukky Shonibare, Japheth Omojuwa, Emmanuela, Aisha Ahmed, Bolanle Austin-peters were also honoured.
Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Fund (NSIA), Uche Orji; Chairman Knightstone Properties, Adeniyi Adams; CEO ACT Foundation, Osayi Alile; Musical duo, DNA and Brand Strategist, Charles O’tudor, among others, attended the event.