Court Dismisses Suit Filed By Sacked Rivers LG Commission Members

The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has struck out a case brought by the Chairman and members of the State Local Government Service Commission.

The claimants were appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara but later removed by former Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The commission’s chairman, Goodlife Ben, along with five others, had gone to court to contest their removal, arguing that it was unlawful and demanding to be reinstated.

However, at Thursday’s hearing, their lawyer, Kelechi Ubani, informed the court that his clients had decided to withdraw the case.

He described the decision as “painful but necessary,” explaining that it was taken in the interest of peace and the progress of Rivers State.

Lawyers representing the defence urged Justice Frank Onyiri to dismiss the matter completely instead of striking it out, but the judge rejected their request.

The judge pointed to Order 25, Rule 1 of civil procedure, which permits the withdrawal of a suit.

Justice Onyiri then struck out the case without awarding costs and commended the claimants for stepping back, calling their decision a noble move toward reconciliation.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Federal High Court in Abuja also rejected a lawsuit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.