The FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, has finally bowed to pressure from Abuja natives and has scheduled the swearing-in of the Chairmen and Counsellors-elect for Tuesday.
Addressing the angry protesters who breached the security, gained access and held some staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) hostage for several hours, the Permanent Secretary, Adesola Olusade, said the administration received the Certified True Copy of the new judgment of the FCT High Court delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, on Friday.
Recall that the court had set aside its earlier judgment delivered on Friday, May 13, granting a one-year extension of the outgoing Chairmen and Councilors of the 6 FCT Area Councils due to lack of jurisdiction.
The Permanent Secretary said: The judgment effectively clears the way for the swearing-in of the newly elected Chairmen.
Angry indigenous youths earlier on Friday protested the continued delay of the swearing-in of elected Area Council Chairmen and Counsellors.
The protesters held workers of the FCTA hostage for more than four hours over the Ministers delay in obeying a court order to swear in the Chairmen and Councillors-elect in the six Area Councils.
The development followed an Abuja High Court judgment delivered on Thursday, by Justice Ibrahim Mohammed upturning its own judgment, which earlier stopped the inauguration of the Area Councils elected officials.
Recall that the FCT Area Councils election, which was held in February had produced a new set of Chairmen and Councillors; however, some people approached the court and obtained an order to stop the inauguration which was due since May 20th, claiming that the amended Electoral Act provides a 4-year tenure instead of three years.
The angry demonstrators, in their large numbers, invaded the Ministers office premises, insisting that the administration must order the extant order of the court and immediately inaugurate the Councils’ elected officials. The face-off created confusion, as workers could not go in or out of the premises.
While all the security agents looked helpless as the demonstrators in their numbers occupied all the gates leading to the secretariat, leaders of the demonstrators refused to speak to newsmen, as they vowed to occupy the Ministers office until he swears-in the Chairmen-elect of the 6 Area Councils, in line with FCT High court order.
