After two years of litigation, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has today overruled the dissolution of erstwhile Oyo State Council Chairmen and Councillors by Seyi Makinde.
The court, in its judgement, also asked the state government to pay the 28 months’ salaries of the officials. It also awarded N20 million cost against the state government.
After close to two years moving from the High Court to the Appeal Court, the Supreme Court appears to have finally laid to rest the issue of the sacking of the council chairmen and councilors by Makinde.
The apex court said that Makinde was wrong to have removed the council Chairmen and Councillors.
Though details of the judgement are still sketchy as at press time, it was understood that the council chairmen and councilors had been sacked few hours after Makinde took oath of office as governor.
They had been elected during the administration of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi.
However, rather than ask them to return to their old jobs in the respective council areas, the court asked Makinde to pay all the council chairmen and councillors their salaries and allowances before August 2021.
It also awarded N20 million cost against the state government.
With the judgement, the council election fixed for May 22, 2021, can now go ahead.
The major opposition party, APC, whose members went to court to challenge their sacking, have however said they would not be participating in the forthcoming Local Government Election.