An Edo State High Court sitting in Igarra, AKoko-Edo Local Government Area on Wednesday declared the impeachment of the elected chairman of the local government, Hon. Tajudeen Alade, illegal.
In the suit marked B/30os/2025, the presiding judge, Justice E. A. Okoh, in his ruling ordered the immediate reinstatement of the elected chairman, just as he directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to provide him with the needed security to resume office.
Justice Okoh in his declarative judgment also said the court has jurisdiction contrary to the challenge by the state government that the court does not have jurisdiction.
The suit marked B/30os/2025 had Hon. Suleman Tajudeen Alade and Hon. Mrs Beatrice Abukare as claimants, while Honurables Alabi Oshionogue, Tope Jacon, Akosile Imashimi, Pendo Adeche, Afolabi Monday (as councilors), Akoko-Edo Local Government Legislative Council, Akoko-Edo Local Government Council, the Vice Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Council and the Inspector General of Police as Defendants through originating summons.
Alade wanted the court to declare his purported impeachment “illegal null and void and of no effect whatsoever” among several other demands.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the claimants, Asmota Anderson said: “In the eye of the law, no impeachment was ever done in the first place.
“The count found that there was indeed non compliance with the procedure stipulated under Section 19 of the Edo State Local Government Law, and that the man was not given fair hearing before his removal and the court now went further to declare that the removal was unlawful and not in compliance with the constitution of the land and therefore null and void.
“The court set aside the removal and ordered his immediate restoration and return to office, it is a declarative judgment and implementation takes effect immediately.”
Contacted, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Lucky Esiegbe said the government has filed for a stay of execution and already filed an appeal, saying that the judgment would not stand.
He expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the ruling, adding that he believed that the judge was misled into a case that he had no jurisdiction.