Court bars FG from running NDDC with sole administrator

A federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, has granted a perpetual injunction restraining the federal government from further constituting an Interim Sole Administrators board to run the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).  The presiding judge, Justice Isa Dashen, also granted an exparte order against the Attorney-General of the Federation […]

A federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, has granted a perpetual injunction restraining the federal government from further constituting an Interim Sole Administrators board to run the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 

The presiding judge, Justice Isa Dashen, also granted an exparte order against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), restraining the federal government from placing the NDDC under any ministry. 

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The court granted the orders pending the determination of a substantive suit No FHC/YNG/CS/135/2021 filed by the Wailing Women of the Niger Delta, The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI) and nine others. 

The groups through their counsel, Prof. Festus Emiri (SAN), among other issues, asked the court to invalidate the appointment of a Sole Administrator/Interim Management Committee for the NDDC, which they claimed was in defiance to the NDDC Act. 

It also asked the court to order the federal government to publish the forensic audit report on the NDDC, which was submitted sometime in 2021 as well as a declaration that the NDDC should be allowed to run independently without being directly placed under any ministry. 

The groups sought a full compliance with the act establishing the commission.

The matter was adjourned until April 5 for hearing.