A federal high court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Inspector General of Police from reinstating the democratically elected, but suspended chairmen of the 17 Local Goernment Areas of Plateau.
The court was ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Plateau state government urging it to prevent the police from giving vent to the August 26 order of the commissioner of Police in Plateau state, Okoro Julius Alawari, ordering the suspended council chairmen and councillors to resume duties on August 28.
In the order made on Friday, and signed by Justice A B Mohammed, a copy of which was obtained by journalists on Saturday, the court, said the police have no power to order the reinstatement of the chairmen and councillors since they already have a matter before the court.
The order said, “An order of this honourable court setting aside the order made by the defendant/respondent directing the 17 suspended Local Government Chairmen of Plateau state who are the claimants in suit No: PLD/257/M/2023 (between Hon. Miskoom Alexander Naantuam (chairman of Shendam Local Government council) and 32 ors vs Governor of Plateau State and Attorney General of Plateau state pending before the Plateau state High court be reinstated as local government chairmen in Plateau state, the order beng judicial and prejudicial to suit no: PLD/257/M/2023 which is predicated on the same subject matter wherein the claimants are are praying the Plateau High court to be reinstated as local government chairmen of Plateau state.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the police from using members of the Nigerian Police force to forcibly reinstate the former local government council chairmen pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.
“It is hereby ordered as follows:
“An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from using members of the Nigerian Police to forcibly reinstate the former local government council chairmen in Plateau state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.”
The court ordered that the enrolled order of interim injunction herein granted be served on the police, along with the motion on notice seeking interlocutory injunction as well as the originating summons
‘Mohammed adjourned to the 14th day of September 2023 for hearing of the plaintiff’s motion on notice seeking interlocutory injunction against the defendants.”
The Plateau state house of assembly, had in July suspended the council chairmen following a petition by the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang accusing them of financial mismanagement.
