The Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the NDDC, dismissing a suit seeking to nullify his appointment, News About Nigeria reports.
The presiding Judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her judgement, held that given section 24(2) of the NDDC Act, the plaintiff had no locus standi.
She, therefore, dismissed the suit filed by the oil-producing communities in Bayelsa and Delta State, seeking to nullify the alleged illegal appointment in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The communities had approached the court, seeking nullification of President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the NDDC.
In their suit, the plaintiffs argued that Ebie was not qualified to head the Board of the NDDC since he was not from the oil-producing area with the highest quantum of oil production.
The judgement reads, “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or enactment, no suit shall lie against any member of the Board, the Managing Director, or any other officer or employee of the Commission for any act done in pursuance or execution of this Act or any other law or enactment, or of any public duty or authority, or in respect of any alleged neglect or default in the execution of this Act or such law or enactment, duty or authority, shall lie or be instituted in any court.”
“It is on this premise that the court dismissed the suit in its entirety.”
Reacting to the judgement, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, described the ruling as well-considered, intelligently delivered, and courageously sound.
According to him, by the ruling, the judiciary has once again proved that justice is never lacking in the Temple of Justice.
