LGA dissolution: Court adjourns ALGON’s contempt case against Oyo govt to July 30

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting at Ringroad, Ibadan, on Tuesday adjourned the contempt of court and committal proceedings filed against the Oyo State Government by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State Chapter, till July 30.

Those joined as defendants alongside the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde in the matter is the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

The court adjourned the matter in order to allow counsels to parties in the suit complete the exchange of all court processes needed to determine the matter.

When the case was called, counsel to the state government, Oluwaseun Dada, had prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the government serves the motion of appeal on the claimants.

During proceedings, counsel to ALGON, Kunle Sobaloju had informed the court that his clients told him that the governor was planning to appoint caretaker chairmen for the 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas in the state and had prayed the court to set aside the directive of the governor that dissolved the local government and local council development area authorities in the state.

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Sobaloju further urged the court to pronounce that both parties should not take any action on the matter pending the determination of the application before it because it may serve as prejudice in the determination of the substantive suit.

But counsel to the government had urged the court to discountenance the submissions because it is speculative and hearsay evidence that cannot be admissible, adding that making such orders would amount to a denial of fair hearing to the other parties in the case.

“The court does not act on hearsay and speculative evidence,” Dada submitted and informed the court of a notice of appeal filed at the appellate court on June 7 for injunction and stay of execution of the judgment delivered on May 6 by Justice Aderonke Aderemi.

Justice Akintola advised the counsels about acting on speculative reports, warning them to be careful about how they convey their thoughts. He
urged counsels to ensure the completion of the exchange of court processes before the next date and adjourned the matter till July 30.