By Our Judicial Correspondent
The order was in response to a restraining order sought by plaintiffs in a substantive suit NO.HCG/20/2015 between Chief Eric Obofukoro and 10 others against the Delta state government, Attorney General of the State and the DTHA as defendants.
Justice Anthony Akpovi, in granting the prayers of the plaintiffs ruled that the lawmakers should convene a public hearing on the issue in the interest of all Deltans, particularly the stakeholders of all tribes involved.
“The Delta State Government and the DTHA (1st and 3rd Defendants) are restrained from scrapping, repealing or decentralizing DESOPADEC as presently constituted under the law Cap D23 Delta State Laws till final determination of this suit.
“As an A.D.R court, it is my further directive that the DTHA have public hearing on the matter in the interest of Deltans and an ADR meeting hosted by the Speaker be called immediately with stakeholders of all tribes involved to explain the content of the bill and why it is coming now which seems to be the question troubling the applicants”, he ruled.
The suit is accordingly fixed for June 10, 2015 for ADR report of settlement from the 3rd Defendant (DTHA) through her counsel, the Director of Civil Litigation failing which there will be adoption of all written addresses.
Reacting to the ruling, Coordinator, Oil Producing Communities of Delta State, Prince Maikpobi Okareme said he was sure all the parties had been served with the rulings of the court stressing “it would mean contempt of court if the state assembly jump the gun to pass or assent to this bill under the circumstance.”
