The Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenogoa has struck out a stay of execution order by Koluama 1 community over chairmanship tenure administration on oil bloc 1 and 11.
The presiding judge, Justice M.A Ayemieye in her ruling struck out the stay of execution order which clearly violates the Constitution of the eight communities in the Rural Area Foundation, koluama I Community in the Koluama I and II bloc cannot occupy and enjoy the position of Chairman of the Keffes Rural Development Foundation for a consecutive 2nd term, having occupied the same position in the preceding tenure.
The case which was initiated by an Originating Summons filed on the 28th of January, 2021 wherein the Court was called upon to determine the following issues whether, by virtue of the provisions of Section 49(1), (2), and (3) of the Constitution of Keffes Rural Development Foundation 2011 (as amended in 2016), a Community (Koluama I) that had occupied the
position of Chairman in the preceding tenure/administration can occupy the same position of Chairman in the subsequent administration?
Whether, by virtue of the forgoing provisions of the aforesaid Constitution, Executive Council offices including the office of
Chairman in the Keffes Rural Development Foundation are occupied on rotational basis in line with duly established bloc/groupings
recognized in Schedule IV of the Constitution of the Keffes Foundation 2011 (as amended in 2016), and the constituent communities therein?
If the answers to question 1 above is in the negative and the answer to question 2 is in the affirmative, then the Claimant claims as follows:
(a) A Declaration to the effect that koluama I Community in the Koluama I and II bloc cannot occupy and enjoy the position of Chairman of the Keffes Rural Development Foundation for a
consecutive 2nd term, having occupied the same position in the preceding tenure/administration.
The crux of the matter as stated indicate that Koluama 1 after occupying the chairmanship for a tenure of four years through Sele Pri Matthew the outgone chairman, he still wants to take the turn of Koluama 2.
The 8 host communities are: (1) Koluama (1) (2) Koluama 2. (3) Ekeni. (4) Foropa. (5) Fish town. (6) Ezetu 1. (7) Ezetu 2. (8) Sangana.
The judge awarded no cost to the claimants in his ruling of October 7.
See judgement below:
