Three Bayelsa Communities Ask Court to Sack NDDC Chair

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Three communities in Bayelsa state have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja, to nullify the appointment of Mr Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

They premised their request on the grounds that Ebie was wrongly appointed by President Bola Tinubu.
Also, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has fixed March 12, for hearing, after confirming service of the suit on all respondents.
According to the plaintiffs, Ebie was not qualified to occupy the seat of Board Chairman having not come from, “the oil producing area with the highest quantum of oil production”.

The plaintiffs, Chief Goodnews Gereghewei, Chief Eddy Brayei and Mr Jonah Engineyouwei, sued on behalf of themselves and Bisangbene, Agge and Amatu1 communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
They had had dragged Tinubu, Senate President, Attorney-General of the Federation, NDDC and Ebie as 1st to 5th respondents respectively to court over the appointment of the NDDC board chairman.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2024, dated and filed January 11, 2024, the plaintiffs are claiming that both Tinubu and the National Assembly contravened the NDDC Act by screening and appointing Ebie as NDDC Board Chairman.

They submitted that although the 5th defendant is from an oil producing community, “the oil produced therefrom is insufficient, thus by the provisions of the law he is unqualified for appointment as the chairman of the 4th defendant’s board.

In the affidavit deposed to in support of the suit, the plaintiffs averred that Ebie’s appointment “was done in error and is against the clear provisions of the law.
“That the screening and confirmation of the 5th defendant by the Nigerian Senate was also done in error and was against the clear provisions of the law.
“That as a result of the facts above and in particular the facts in paragraphs 2 – 11, the appointment of the 5th defendant is null, void and of no effect,” they argued.

The plaintiffs through their lawyer, B. B. Abalaba, are therefore asking the court to determine whether the 5th defendant who is from a community with minimal oil production is qualified to be the chairman of the 4th defendant , the NDDC.
Other issues raised for determination are: “Whether the appointment of the 5th defendant by the 1st defendant as the chairman of the 4th defendant is not in contravention of the NDDC Act?

“Whether the appointment of the 5th defendant by the 1st defendant as the chairman of the 4th defendant is not Illegal null and void?”