Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State have filed a suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) provide them with adequate security for their lives and properties.
They argue that, according to the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act 2020, the IGP, SSS, and other security agencies are legally obligated to ensure their security and well-being. The council chairmen have also asked the court to prohibit the implementation of any laws for local governments in Rivers State other than those enacted by the State House of Assembly, citing concerns about the Rivers State Government's alleged refusal to enforce the laws made by the local governments.
They have outlined seven key issues for the court to address in resolving their grievances with all the defendants in the case. One of these issues is whether the IGP, CP Rivers, SSS, and Director, SSS, as well as other security agencies, are obliged by law to provide security and welfare for their lives and properties, based on the provisions of the constitution and the Police Act.
The chairmen have also requested a declaration from the court stating that the IGP, CP Rivers, SSS, Director SSS, and other security agencies are obligated to acknowledge and enforce all laws and regulations, including those made by the State House of Assembly of Rivers State. Additionally, they want the court to declare that no government entity has the authority to withhold the financial allocations that local governments in Rivers State are entitled to receive.
Supporting the originating summons is a 29-paragraph affidavit sworn by Dr. Chidi LLoyd, a legal practitioner and Chairman of Emohua Local Government, on behalf of the other 41 chairmen. Among the chairmen involved in the lawsuit are Dr. Chidi LLoyd (Chairman, Emohua local government), Hon Alwell Ihunda (Chairman, Port Harcourt local government), Dr. Nwanosike Samuel (Chairman, Ikwerre local government area), Barrister George Ariolu (Chairman, Obio-Akpor local government), Dr. Obbinna Anyawu (Chairman, Etchi local government area), and Hon Chidorom Nwaiwu (Chairman, Omuma local government area). Other chairmen include Dr. Hope Ikiriko (Chairman, Ahoada West local government area), Barrister Benjamin Isreal Eke (Chairman, Ahoada East Local government), and Dr. Roland Sekibo (Chairman, Akuku-Toru local government area), among others.
The defendants in the case are the IGP, CP Rivers, DG SSS, Director SSS Rivers, AGF, Chairman Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Rivers State Government, AG Rivers State, and the Finance Commissioner in Rivers State, listed as the 1st to 9th defendants.
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