Godwin Udoh, Asaba
A human rights group, led by Barr. Omemiroro Ogedegbe, has dragged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and four others to court over the appointment of one Cdr Azubuike Idah (rtd) as Director General, Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA)
In the affidavit to which Mr. Ogedegbe supported his Originating Summons before the Ughelli High Court Judicial Division with Suit No; UHC/171/019, he is seeking a declaration on the appointment of Azubuike Idah as DESTMA Director-General by Governor Okowa as ‘null and void’ without confirmation of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Also joined in the suit as 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents, were the Delta State House of Assembly, the Delta State Traffic Management Agency (DESTMA) and Cdr Azubuike Idah (rtd), respectively.
“It is a breach of the provisions of Section 12(1) of the DESTMA Law, 2013 CII4 2013 No. 00 which states that “there shall be a Director General of the Authority (DESTMA) who shall be appointed by the Governor subject to the confirmation of the House”.
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Furthermore, the activist and legal practitioner averred, in another relief for “A declaration that the appointment of the 4th respondent (IDAH) as Director General of the 3rd respondent (DESTMA), without the required ten (10) years cognate experience in traffic management, is a violation of Section 12 (3) of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority Law, 2013.”
Section 12 (3) of the law states that “The Director-General shall be a University/HND graduate with at least 10 years cognate experience in Road Traffic Management or other related matters”.
He further submitted that Idah was appointed Head of Operations of DESTMA in 2013 and did not possess the requisite 10 years cognate experience in road traffic management or other related matters to qualify his elevation to the office of Director-General.
He is therefore seeking “An Order of Court squashing the appointment of the 4th respondent by the 1st respondent for non-compliance with the Delta State Traffic Management Authority Law”, as well as “An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st respondent from carrying out any such appointment into the office of the 3rd respondent (DESTMA) without a confirmation by the 2nd respondent (DTHA).
The matter has been fixed for hearing on the 28th November 2019 at the Ughelli High Court.
