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The National Industrial Court, Ibadan division, on Tuesday warned Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, Oyo state House of Assembly and other agencies of the governemnt from taking any step towards filling the vacant offices of the Chairman and members of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission(OYSIEC), pending the determination of the originating summons filed by the sacked members of the commission.
This was pursuant to a complaint made to the court of repeated threats and claims by the governor to reconstitute the OYSIEC, even while the cases filed by the ousted members of the commission challenging their dissolution remains pending in court.
Lead counsel to the claimants had drawn the attention of the court to the various pronouncements of the defendants to disregard the jurisdiction of the court by thereatening to reconstitute the commission.
Counsel to the defendants, Mrs F.B. Olakojo had upon being required by the court to undertake that no adverse steps would be taken by the state government to over-reach the proceedings in the case, stated that no step has been taken by the Oyo state Government to undermine the jurisdiction of the court.
The sacked members of the commission had filed an originating summons against the State Government challenging their removal and also filed a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction which are still pending.
Justice Peters of the National Industrial Court in his ruling adjourned the matter for hearing till February 12, 2020 and issued a stern warning to the state government that pending the determination of the suit, the defendants should not take any step that may adversely affect the matter or over reach the jurisdiction of the court.
He statied that he expects the governor, House of Assembly and the Attorney General of the state as law abiding officers under the constitution to respect the jurisdiction of the court and refrain from acting unconstitutionally.