Photo: Some members of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) during a peaceful protest outside the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday.
A Federal High court, Abuja, has been urged to restrain Mr Kolade Alabi from parading himself as national chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
The applicants; the Incorporated Trustees of ALGON, Hon Abubakar Abdullahi and Hon Shaban Ohinoyi Shuaib, also prayed Justice Inyang Ekwo to make an order setting aside the purported General Assembly convened at the instance of Alabi on March 24, 2021.
They sought a declaration that Alabi is not qualified to be national chairman of the association.
The applicants argued that Alabi, who was chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos at the time, cannot hold the leadership position of ALGON, as Bariga is not among the country’s 774 local government areas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the applicants, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1609/2023, sued the Federal Ministry of Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation and Governor of Central Bank as 1st to 3rd respondents.
Others joined in the matter include the Attorney-General of Federation, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, State Security Services(SSS) and Honorable Alabi as 4th to 8th respondents respectively.
In their originating summons filed by their lawyer, Bartholomew Opara, they maintained that Alabi is not eligible to be ALGON chairman as he was not a local government chairman recognised by jaw.
They contended that Alabi had been removed by ALGON’s National Executive Council (NEC) in 2019 but kept parading himself as chairman.
Opara, while adopting their processes on Friday, insisted that the constitution stipulated that only chairmen of constitutionally recognised LGAs can hold office in ALGON.
He cited Sections 8 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 of ALGON Constitution as well as a Supreme Court judgment on the listed LGAs to buttress his arguments.
Okpara sought order of perpetual injunction restraining Alabi from further parading or holding himself out as an officer or representative of ALGON.
But Alabi’s counsel, Abdulwahab Shittu, SAN, disagreed with Opara.
Shittu prayed the court to dismiss the case of the plaintiffs for directing it against the national chairman of ALGON.
The senior lawyer, in their preliminary objection, insisted that ALGON constitution recognises the office of the president and not chairman as erroneously canvassed in the suit.
Justice Ekwo thereafter fixed April 30 for judgment, adding that parties would be notified if the judgment is ready before the date.
NAN reports that the court had earlier restrained Akokade Alabi-led faction of the ALGON from parading themselves as the leaders of the association.
Meanwhile, some members of ALGON staged a peaceful protest outside the court on Friday to press home their demands.
The protesters, who carried placards with different inscription, called on President Bola Tinubu to rescue ALGON from Alabi’s grip.
(NAN)
