PLATEAU State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), filed an application for interim Injunction and has been granted order restraining Governor Caleb Mutfwang from removing Chairmen and Councillors from office to replace them.
The embattled ALGON Chairman of the State, Miskoom Alexander Naantuam, disclosed this while briefing Journalists at the State Headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Jos, the State capital Thursday shortly after receiving the Court injunction.
He said, “we took Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office as Chairmen of our respective Local Government Councils on the 11th day of October, 2021 while the Councillors also had the first sitting of their councils in October 2021, thus, rendering the life of our guaranteed and fixed 3-year tenure, terminable in October, 2024.
“Labouring under the real apprehension that the Governor of Plateau State might resort to underhand means to scuttle our tenure of office , we sought refuge in Court by filling an action in the Plateau State High Court of Justice to seek the determination of the question as to whether the Governor can remove or suspend us from office.
“We filed a motion of Interlocutory Injunction seeking or praying the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Governor either by himself or his privies from disturbing, disputing, terminating, suspending or truncating the tenure of the Local Government Chairmen and the Legislative Council”, he highlighted.
SUNDAY STANDARD reports that the action so filed was Suit No. PLD/J257M/2023- HON. MISKOOM ALEXANDER NAANTUAM & ORS. VS GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE & 1 OR and that the said motion was served on the Governor on June 1, 2023 at 12:43pm respectively.
According to the ALGON Chairman, “we filed an application for Interim Injunction before: His Lordship Hon. Justice I. I. Kunda restraining the Governor from removing the Chairmen and Councillors of the 17 Local Government Councils of Plateau State of Nigeria, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
“Thankfully, the High Court of Justice of Plateau State granted the application for Interim Injunction and issued an order of Interim Injunction restraining the Governor from removing and replacing the Chairmen and Councillors of the 17 Local Government of Plateau with any other person or group of persons.
“The order which was issued or made today, the 9th day of June 2023, has been served on the Governor. We are hopeful that the Governor , being himself a lawyer will abide by the order of the High Court of Justice of Plateau State”, the Chairman of Shendam Local Government prayed.
