Amosun Dragged To Court Over Dissolution of OGSIEC

The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has been dragged to an Abeokuta High Court over the dissolution of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

The Chairman of the commission, Mr Kayode Adeleye and seven other members filed the suit today through their counsel, Mr Afolabi Fashanu (SAN).

P.M.NEWS gathered that the Sixth House of Assembly, under the Speakership of Rt.Hon. Tunji Egbetokun, had on 31 May dissolved some statutory commissions and boards.

Some of the affected commissions and boards were OGSIEC, Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and Local Government Service Commission.

Others included House of Assembly Service Commission and Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Our correspondent also reports that the dissolution was sequel to a request forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Amosun.

Howeever, in an originating summon filed at the court, the former OGSIEC members prayed the court to determine whether the governor had powers to dissolve the commission in line with Sections 197 and 199 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7(1) of OGSIEC Law.

They also sought an injunction restraining the governor from constituting another commission or appointing anybody in acting capacity until the expiration of their five-year tenure as guaranteed by the constitution and other applicable laws.

Aside Adeleye, other claimants are Mrs. Yeside Kuforiji, Chief Oluwole Olaleye, Mr Adeyemi Lawal-Sholarin, Mr Oyeniyi Adekola, Chief Adetunji Falola, Dr Ademola Ogunleye and Bishop Paul Onanuga.

Joined as a defendant in the suit with No. AB/166/2011 was the Attorney-General of the state.

According to a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one of the claimants, the tenure of the OGSIEC members will expire on September 7, 2015.

The claimants, therefore, sought a declaration of the court that the purported dissolution of OGSIEC by the governor was “wrongful, illegal, unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever”.

They also sought a declaration that the press release dated 31 May, issued by the defendant conveying the dissolution of the commission to the claimants “is wrongful, unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional”.

The former OGSIEC board members asked the court to set aside the purported dissolution and declare them as still in the service of the commission.

By Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta