Less than a year lawmakers of both the Upper and Lower Houses outrightly rejected the nomination of Ms. Laurette Onochie as Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Federal High Court, at the weekend in Abuja, granted an order stopping the National Assembly from screening and confirming the nomination of the embattled Ms Lauretta Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
The duo were to be screened and confirmed as respective chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Justice J. K. Omotosho, who presided over the case, ordered all actions on the matter be suspended pending the determination of the suit.
The originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2294/2022 is among others, seeking a restraining order on the National Assembly from screening and confirming the duo.
The plaintiffs, Chief Edward Ekpokpo Esq., and Victor Wood who are both representing the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought and Mr Edward Omagbemi who is representing Omadino Unity Forum all on behalf of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality are challenging the nomination on the grounds that it is the turn of the Itsekiri nationality to occupy the positions.
The first to sixth defendants in the suit are President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the House of Senate, Mrs Lauretta Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
It maintained that it is the turn of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality to produce the NDDC board chairman and MD as the highest oil-producing community in Delta State.
The court, however,adjourned the matter to January 11, 2023, for further hearing,
