News Investigators/ A High court in Akure, the Ondo state capital, has nullified the creation of additional 33 Local Council Development Àreas (LCDAs) in the state.
The presiding judge, Adegboyega Adebusoye held that it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state he or she governs.
In September, 2023, the former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, had signed the bill a day after his return from a three-month medical leave at his residence in Ibadan where he was recuperating.
Earlier in August, the Ondo State House of Assembly passed the bill for the creation of the 33 additional councils, bringing the total number of local councils in the state to 51.
Delivering judgement Thursday in Akure, Mr. Adegboyega held that was unlawful for a governor to sign a law outside the state he or she governs.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Tolu Babaleye, who spoke to newsmen, said the court held that the creation of the 33 LCDAs was “unconstitutional, null and void”.
“We approached this court being the last hope of the common man. And today, the court gave a well-considered judgment which I call a judicial Tsunami, sweeping off all those illegally created local governments in Ondo state,” Mr. Babaleye said.
“Apart from that, there was a landmark pronouncement by the court to the effect that no governor is empowered to sign the law of a state outside the shores or jurisdiction of that state because the government has provided for a massive government house for a governor.
“So the governor has no right under the law to go to Ibadan to sign the law. Because of that, the law was nullified, declared unconstitutional and of no effect.
“So as I talk to you now, Ondo state has reverted to 18 local governments.”