The Supreme Court on Friday declared the sack of the elected council chairmen and councillors across the 33 Local Government Area of Oyo State by Governor Seyi Makinde as illegal and unconstitutional.
The apex court, in its ruling, upheld the appeal of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) of the previous administration led by Abass Aleshinloye.
The apex court, in its judgement, ordered the state government to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances owed the sacked Council chairmen and their councillors with immediate effect.
Makinde shortly after his inauguration as governor in 2019, had sacked the council chairmen and their councillors.
He ordered the council bosses who were elected into their respective offices in 2018 to hand over government properties in their possession to the most senior staffer in their respective local government areas.
The affected officials spread across the 33 local government areas (LGAs) and 35 local council development areas (LCDAs) and their councillors, who were elected during the tenure of the immediate past governor, late Abiola Ajimobi.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Aleshinloye who was the former chairman of Oluyole LGA of Oyo State, challenged the Governor at the Oyo State High Court and the Appeal Court. The Governor won both cases, however, the Supreme Court has now upheld the appeal of the sacked Council Chairmen and councillors.
