Rivers: Court throws out suit challenging removal of LG Service Commission members

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the Chairman and members of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, who were appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara but later replaced by former Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The claimants Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome, and three others had asked the court to declare their removal unlawful and to reinstate them to office.

However, the court struck out the case, effectively upholding the replacement of the commission’s leadership.

When the matter came up for judgment on Thursday, counsel to the claimants, Kelechi Ubani, informed the court of a notice of discontinuance filed at the request of his clients.

Ubani explained that his clients made what he called a “painful decision” to withdraw the suit in the interest of peace and progress in the state.

However, counsel to the 1st–12th defendants opposed the motion, urging the court to dismiss the case instead of striking it out.

In his ruling, presiding judge Justice Frank Onyiri dismissed the defendants’ objection, describing their motion as baseless.

Citing relevant legal authorities in support of the claimants’ application, Justice Onyiri struck out the suit under Order 25, Rule 1.

The court, however, declined to award costs or to dismiss the case as requested by the defendants, commending the claimants’ decision to withdraw the matter as “noble.”

(DailyPost)