The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to reverse the appointments of the current Managing Director and Executive Directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Bola Tinubu.
The court’s decision was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.
The suit was filed by Hon. Ajoku Philip, Chief Jones Omereoha, and the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights International Foundation, who claimed to represent oil-producing communities in Imo State and a few other states.
They argued that the appointments of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Mr. Boma Iyaye, Mr. Victor Antai, and Ifedayo Abegunde as Managing Director and Executive Directors of the NDDC were in contravention of Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act.
The plaintiffs demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the nominations and appoint indigenes of oil-producing communities from Imo, Cross River, and Edo States, who they alleged had not previously held these positions. They also prayed for a declaration that Sections 4 and 12(1) of the NDDC Establishment Act were compulsory in the appointment of the Commission’s Chairman, Managing Director, and Executive Directors.
However, the legal team for NDDC opposed the application, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to institute the action. The Commission maintained that Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act provides for “adequate representation,” and this had always been observed in the Commission’s appointments.
Giving judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the proper party to initiate the case was the Attorney General of the state, being the chief law officer empowered to sue on behalf of the state or appoint a private lawyer to do so. He noted that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claims and did not provide evidence of the manner and status of appointments into NDDC management positions since the Commission’s inception.
Recall that in August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed a new Board and Management team for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The president appointed Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman from Delta State, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer from Bayelsa State, Mr. Boma Iyaye as Executive Director of Finance and Administration from Rivers State, Mr. Victor Antai as Executive Director of Projects from Akwa Ibom State, and Ifedayo Abegunde as Executive Director of Corporate Services from Ondo State.
Other members appointed to the team include Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa as State Representative for Bayelsa State and Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono as State Representative for Akwa Ibom State, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya as State Representative for Delta State, Chief Tony Okocha as State Representative for Rivers State, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren as State Representative for Edo State, Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu as State Representative for Imo State, Victor Kolade Akinjo as State Representative for Ondo State, Chief Dimgba Eruba as State Representative for Abia State, and Mr. Asu Oku Okang as State Representative for Cross River State.
The zonal representatives include Hon. Nick Wende for the North Central Zone, Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak for the North East Zone, and Senator Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir for the North West Zone.
The appointments were announced to take immediate effect.
