THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it is set to swear in the newly elected area council chairmen and councillors.
In a statement released on Friday by Anthony Ogunleye, spokesman of the minister, the FCTA said the decision was based on a new judgement by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court which set aside the earlier order that elongated the tenure of the incumbent chairmen and councillors.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration at about 1400hrs of this Friday, the 10th of June, 2022 received the Certified True Copy of the new judgement of the FCT High Court delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed in respect of the above subject matter.
“The Court has set aside its earlier judgement delivered on Friday the 13th day of May, 2022, granting a one year extension of the outgoing Chairmen and Councilors of the six FCT Area Councils due to lack of jurisdiction. The judgement effectively clears the way for the swearing in of the newly elected chairmen,” the statement said.
Ogunleye noted that the FCTA would comply with the new judgement as it had obeyed the previous one and urged residents of the Territory to also remain law abiding.
The FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, had suspended the swearing-in of the newly elected council chairmen and councillors in May.
Bello had said in a statement that the suspension was a result of a court injunction which allowed the present leaders to remain in office for the next one year.
He noted that while complying with the court order, efforts were being made to vacate or appeal the judgement, and urged residents to await the legal process.
Residents had, however, stormed the Minister’s office following the announcement, demanding the immediate swearing-in of the leaders.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.