Despite Supreme court judgement which halts the appointment of Laurette Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Senate, in a plenary session yesterday, confirmed the appointment of the duo.
The Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan who made the announcement at the floor of the upper Chambers, said this is to Confirm the names of the two persons, Laurette Onochie as Chairman of the NDDC board and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director of the NDDC forwarded to it by President Mohammed Buhari.
It would be recalled that a federal High Court in Abuja had earlier ruled against the appointment of the duo to the NDDC board.
The Court in its ruling, held that all actions on the matter be suspended, pending the determination of the suit filed by Chief Edward Ekpokpo Esq, Engr, Victor Wood, both representing the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) and Mr. Edward Omagbemi, representing Omadino Unity Forum on behalf of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality.
The suit which was filled by Ama Etuwewe, SAN & Co on behalf of the plaintiffs, demands that the provisions of the NDDC Act be adhere to in the process, maintaining that it’s the turn of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality being the highest oil producing community in Delta state to produce the NDDC Chairman and Managing Director respectively.
But the Senate decision to proceed to confirm the appointment of President Buhari’s nominees for NDDC board, appears to over rule the earlier decision of a competent Court of jurisdiction.
