More trouble for NDDC IMC, Niger-Delta activists ask Court to sack them

By Ovasa Ogaga,

A Federal High Court, Abuja will Wednesday, hear the motion filed by two Niger-Delta rights activist demanding the sack of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC pending the hearing of a pending suit before the court.

The suit according to the plaintiffs is brought pursuant to order 26 rules 1, 2, 4 and order 28 rule 1 of the Federal High Court civil procedure rules, 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The applicants in the suit; Akharame Lucky, Edward Brisibe, Youths Arise for Undiluted Leadership & Development Initiative and Riverrun Development Initiative, are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th defendants, their agents, privies or whatever name called from further dealings with the monies, bank accounts, properties and any other functions relating to the 3^rd defendant pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

ALSO READ: NDDC Corruption Saga: Delta publisher accuses IMC, Akpabio of intimidation

The defendants in the suit are; Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang, Mrs Caroline Nagbo and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide.

According to the motion by the applicants, both of whom are lawyers, is an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 4^th -8^th defendants from further parading themselves as the interim acting managing director, executive directors of the 3^rd defendants pending the final determination of the substantive suit.

Speaking on the suit, the applicants who are also counsel to the suit, said: “We are bringing this application to the court based on the grounds that the acts of the defendants are illegal and their activities should not be allowed to continue with impunity.

“Based on this illegality, the 4^th-8^th defendants are depleting the funds of the 3^rd defendants by the illegal salaries, allowances and bonuses they receive and are receiving at the moment, which will never be recovered if the court finds that their appointments are illegal and void.

“We all know that the 3^rd defendant can still be managed by the most senior officials of the 3^rd defendant pending the determination of the substantive suit.”