Posted by Niger Delta Youth Council
It was celebration galore in the camp of the Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) on Wednesday, the 31st of October 2024 as Justice Joyce Abdulamalik of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court dismissed a suit challenging the appointment of Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission.
The youth group whose membership cuts across all ethnic nationalities that make up the Niger Delta region had earlier on, petitioned the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, urging the learned justices to dismiss the suit for lack of merit as the motive behind it is nothing but a deliberate attempt to disrupt the progress and development of the region.
Despite insinuations of illegality in his appointment, the youth threw their weight behind Mr. Ebie, insisting that his appointment was in line with extant laws. They maintained that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act 2000, prescribes that the ideal candidate for Chairman of NDDC must be from an oil-producing area. Since Mr. Ebie is from the Niger Delta region with impeccable character and pedigree, it is simply frivolous to contest his appointment.
However, those opposed to his appointment including individuals and communities in both Delta and Bayelsa States insisted that the Chairman out to have come from the highest oil-producing area of Delta State and alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had violated the NDDC in the appointment of Ebie outside a major oil-producing community, hence the court case.
Delivering judgment after listening to all the parties in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/28/2024, and filed January 11, 2024, the court held that there was no illegality in the appointment of Chiedu Ebie as he he is ably qualified and that Mr. President and the National Assembly acted within the confines of the law.
The elated Board Chairman NDDC Chairman, through a press release, described the ruling “as well-considered, intelligently delivered and courageously sound” while calling on Niger Deltans to close ranks with him towards holistically addressing the challenges of the region”, even as he commended the “harmonious relationship amongst Board members which is necessary for the growth of the region”.
Addressing journalists shortly after the verdict, the National Coordinator of NDYC, Engr. Jator Abido in the company of Comrades Terry Obieh, Solomon Adodo, Victor Udoh, and Beke Apere variously hailed the judgment as a win for the good people of Niger Delta who are in dire need of development in the region following years of maladministration and neglect of the oil-rich region especially as it grapples with environmental degradation, pollution and loss of livelihoods.
Engr. Abido Jator profoundly commended Justice Joyce Abdulamalik and all the learned justices of the High Court together with the entire legal team “for standing on the path of truth and fairness. He also commended the good people of the Niger Delta region for standing with the Chairman of NDDC Board in this trying time”.
“On his part, Comrade Solomon Adodo called the judgment “historic”, adding that, “today, we celebrate the triumph of unity, fairness, and justice. It is our earnest appeal to stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to desist from distracting our leaders. Dragging them from one court to another cannot help out the region as all hands must be on deck to salvage our region from the many challenges besieging it”.
According to Beke Apere, “the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man. Today, our enemies have failed and those who seek to divide us are once again put to shame. The Niger Delta region cannot afford to be hijacked by a few selfish elements. It is now time to join hands and uplift our dear region”.
In his brief remarks, Comrade Udoh Victor thanked Mr. President, the Senate President, the Attorney General of the Federal for standing up against the bullies that seek to hijack the people’s common good. He assured Mr. President of the support and loyalty of Nigerian youth to his administration, as he pledged to work with NDYC and other youth groups to mobilize massively come 2027 in appreciation for the determination and courage shown towards delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda”.