The suspended elected chairman of Oredo Local LGA, Dr Tom Obaseki, has threatened the Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky Eseigbe, with a contempt of court charge over the appointment of an acting chairman for the council.
DAILY POST reports that the commissioner appointed Dr. Igbinigie Osaheni, Head of Local Government Administration as acting chairman of the LGA, following the failure of the legislative arm of the council to impeach the elected chairman and his deputy.
Reacting to the appointment, Obaseki, through his counsel Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the commissioner to withdraw the appointment letter or face contempt of court charge.
Afolabi, in the letter, described the action of the commissioner as superfluous, insidious and insulting to the democratic tenets of the nation’s solid democracy.
“You need not be reminded that our client remains the Chairman of the Oredo Local Government. This position has been reiterated by an existing mandatory injunction of court granted by Justice Ikponwonba in Suit No:B/307/2024 on the 16th and 20th of December, 2024 respectively.
“Of course, this position is a reiteration of the financial autonomy and independence of Oredo Local Government which the Supreme Court in SC/V/343/2024; A.G. Federation v.A.G.Abia State & 30 rs has put their official stamp to.
“You are immediately required forthwith to retract your request in a formal letter within 24 hours of receipt of this letter. Failure of which you will be held liable for contempt of court being an agent and serving officials under the government of Edo State that has been restrained. This letter of yours should be written both to Dr. Igbinigie O. Osaheni and our client.
“You are a lawyer and your loyalty should be first to uphold the highest not be found disrespecting the same contemptuously.
“We await your retraction and immediate apology and we advise you to refrain yourself from being used as an instrument of illegality,” parts of the letter read.
DAILY POST reported that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Lucky Eseigbe appointed Osaheni as the Acting Chairman of the council in a letter dated February 3, 2025.
Eseigbe said the appointment followed the refusal of the elected councillors in the 12 wards of Oredo LGA to act as chairman of the council after the suspension of the 18 local government chairmen and their deputies.
He said the chairmen and deputies were suspended due to alleged financial misappropriation and insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Parts of the commissioner’s letter read: “Following the suspension of the 18 local government chairmen and vice chairmen due to financial misappropriation and insubordination to the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the refusal of elected Councillors in the 12 wards of Oredo Local Government Area to act as the chairman of the council, it has become imperative to fill the vacant seat of the council.
“Consequently, you are authorised to function as the chairman of Oredo Local Government Area with effect from Tuesday 17, December 2024.”