Court reinstates suspended Obio-Akpor LG chairman

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(Nigeria) A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday reinstated, Timothy Nsirim, Chairman, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, suspended for alleged fraudulent practices.
The chairman and the council’s councillors were suspended from office on May 2013 by the House of Assembly for alleged fraud.
In her ruling, Justice Adanma Iyayi-Lamikanra, said the suspension of the chairman and the councilors was ``flawed and unconstitutional’’.
In its reaction to the ruling, the state government in a statement signed by Ibim Semenitari,  the Commissioner for Information, said the government would abide by the ruling.
``As a responsible government, Rivers government will abide by the ruling,’’ the statement stated.
Semenitari said ``we are constrained to note that the trail judge acted in total disregard for the Court of Appeal, which at the moment is entertaining an appeal in respect of the matter.
``We are aware that under the rules of court, where there is a subsisting ruling, essentially from the court above, the lower court as a rule is expected to stay action pending the determination of the appeal,’’ she said.
The commissioner said the judge erred in law when she failed to adhere to ``the age-long principles upon which the rule of law draws inspiration and strength’’.
She said the government had filed an appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment.
She advised the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding, saying the government would pursue justice through constitutional and judicial means.
``We appeal to all Rivers people, particularly the good people of Obio-Akpor council to remain calm and law abiding,’’ she said.

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