APC Seeks Dissolution Of Osun LG Caretaker Committees, Drags Adeleke, OSIEC To Court

The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the State High Court, to set aside the appointment of Caretaker Chairmen for the 68 Local Government Areas, Local Council Development Areas, Administrative Coucils, Area Offices and Area Councils in the state.

The APC through its counsels, Ayodele Kusamotu, Idowu Oloyede and three others, also want the court to declare the caretaker committees constituted into the third tier of government in the state illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

The APC contended that the first defendant in the case, Governor Ademola Adeleke lacked constitutional power to forward names of certain persons to the Osun State House of Assembly through the Speaker to screen and confirm such names to be appointed as caretaker committee chairmen, Vice-Chairmen , Secretaries, Special Advisers, members among others.

The party also prayed the court to compel all the appointed Council Chairmen to refund all salaries, estacodes, imprests, allowances and benefits received from the day of inauguration.

The pleas are contained in a suit marked: HOS/M210/2023, and filed before an Osun State High Court, Osogbo Judicial Division.

In it, the APC joined the Osun State Governor and 71 others including the House of Assembly, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the 68 caretaker chairmen.

The court process which was dated October 30, 2023, was sighted by newsmen yesterday.

“Within forty two (42) days after service of this summons on them, inclusive of the day of such service cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons which is issued upon the application of All Progressives Congress, Osun State which claims for:

“Declaration of inauguration of caretaker committees into Osun State Local Government Councils, Osun State Local Government Councils Development Areas, Osun State Local Council Area Offices and Osun State Local Council Administrative Offices as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“An order for nullification of caretaker committees into Osun State Local Government Councils, Osun State Local Government Councils Development Areas, Osun State Council Area Offices and Osun State Local Council Administrative Offices

“An order directing the Osun State Local Government Councils, Osun State Council office and Osun State Local Council Administrative Office caretaker committees to refund salaries, estacodes, imprests, allowances, allowances, benefits and any other emoluments received from the day of inauguration till date back to the account of the Osun State government/Local Government Joint Account

“General damages of (N200, 000, 000.00), two hundred million naira jointly or severally against the 1st-5th Defendants in favour of the claimant.

“Cost of action at N10,000,000.00) Ten Million Naira on favour of the claimants

“10 percent interest on the judgement sum until final liquidation”.

Recall that Governor Ademola Adeleke had on August 16, 2023, inaugurated the caretaker committee chairmen, after the approval of the State House of Assembly, owing to a December 2022 Federal High Court, Osogbo, verdict that the local government election conducted in October last year, was bereft of due process.