Unlawful sack: Imo LG Polls runs into hitch …ISIEC boss drags Rochas to Court …Says: Ibebuchi’s appointment null, void

The proposed Imo State Local Government election may not hold afterall, as the sacked chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission ISIEC Barr Amaechi Nwoha has dragged Gov Rochas Okorocha and other officials and institutions of the state to court for alleged unlawful removal from office.
According to the ousted chairman the implication of the illegality of his removal is that he still remains the lawful and authentic chairman of the commission till the expiration of his tenure by September 2018.
Nigeria Newspoint findings revealed that Barr Nwoha in Suit No. NICN/OW/15/2018 is asking the National Industrial Court of Nigeria NICN, to make in his favour in the matter pending before its Owerri division.
According to investigation carried out by Nigeria Newspoint the ousted chairman apart from the governor also dragged the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Independent State Electoral Commission ISIEC to the same court as co defendants.
It was further gathered that the plaintiff is seeking three major declarations which includes the declaration that he is still the substantive chairman of ISIEC until legally removed from office and his entitlements which have not been paid since four and half years, he resumed office should be paid.
A declaration that the appointment of a new ISIEC chairman, Mr. Tony Ibebuchi did not follow due process and arising from this, any action(s) presently taken, as the commission’s chairman is illegal, null and void.
Also, he is urging the court to declare that he or any other member of the commission can only be removed following steps as laid down in the constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended in section 201 even as section 119 stipulated the tenure of the chairman and members of the board.
With this matter pending in court legal pundits are of the opinion that another major setback has been thrown on the way of plans for the conduct of LG elections even as there are some other cases like the protracted tussle between the government and sacked elected Council’s officials who were sacked by fiat on June 6, 2011 by the governor.

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