By Innocent Onyeukwu
TheImoStateAttorney General and Commissioner for Justice Bar. Sorronnadi Njoku, Tuesday, fired from all cylinders, as he stoutly spoke in defence of the actions of the Owelle Rochas Okorocha Administration in the face off between the latter and the elected 27 Local Government Chairmen in the State.
He declared in clear language that the present Administration has complied with the Order of theAppeal Courtto allow the elected Chairmen and Councillors to return to the LGA councils.
Speaking to Imo Trumpeta in an interview, he said the invitation of the Chairmen to a meeting with the Governor on Friday does not amount to seeking a political solution to the lingering impasse with the Council Chairmen. He insists that the legal option is the only option to open Government.
The Attorney General said it is false for anyone to allude that the State Government did not respect or obey the order of theAppeal Courtwhich reinstated the Chairmen and the Councillors.
He said presently, the Transition Committee Chairmen are no longer on seat as the elected Chairmen enforced the order of the Court by taking over the councils in a forceful manner, adding that by this action, the State Government has allowed the Court of Appeal order to prevail.
The State Chief Law officer however faulted the manner and approach the Council Chairmen adopted to enforce the Order of theAppeal Court.
He stated “Anyone who disregards or disobeys the court order is arraigned contempt of Court. It is wrong for one to resort to self – help to enforce a court order. It is wrong for them to hire thugs and give them matchets to break the council gates. Our contention is that they should have applied the Sheriff & Civil process Enforcement Law, an act of the National Assembly, in their bid to enforce the Judgement. They did not. The Supreme forbids enforcement of court order by self help”.
He continued ‘We have obeyed the Court Order. The Chairmen are on seat. They have been holding meetings at the Councils. The other day, they held meetings with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. So, they have resumed duty. And this implies that the State Government has obeyed the order of the Court’ the AG stated.
Bar. Njoku denied reports that the State Government is frustrating the Chairmen from carrying out their duties effectively by granting leave to DAGS and treasurers in the LGs. He said the public holidays and leave for workers was already part of Government programme even before theAppeal Courtgave its ruling on the matter with the TC Chairmen.
‘Where you not hearing the announcement on the print and electronic media that workers should go on holiday to enable them go for postings on the CGC. So, how can anyone say that the holiday or leave was a ploy to frustrate the Chairmen? These were already, Government programmes that were in place even before the judgement. So how can anyone say that it is a witchunting tool’ the Attorney General declared.
He described as untrue that the invitation of the Chairmen amounts to Government dumping the legal option to seek for a political solution to the impasse, stressing that the only option open to Government and which it has consistently pursued is the legal option
‘The only option to us is the legal option. That is the option we have pursued and have consistently followed. This is why we have gone to the Supreme Court ‘he said.
He emphasized that the Okorocha Administration is not happy with theAppeal Courtruling and that is they have gone to the nation’s apex court.
‘I am not happy with the Appeal Court Judgment and that is the reason why we have gone to the Supreme Court and that is the normal procedure’ he declared
He said those peddling false rumours that the State Government did really go to the Supreme Court or really filed a Motion for Stay of Execution are being mischievous. He said a date for hearing on the matter at the Supreme Court has not been forthcoming because of the present vacation in the judiciary and there are correspondences from the nation’s apex court to prove that the State Government has gone to Court.
The Attorney General also took a swipe at those who said he lacks the confidence of the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
He said ‘They say I lack the confidence of my boss, the Governor and that he debriefed in public. ‘‘I have survived two cabinet reshuffles and I was retained. Does that amount to loss of confidence? Remember I was not appointed Attorney General before the case began, I came in midway and since then I have been handling the matter” he said.
