From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received a briefing from the newly appointed Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Mrs Lauretta Onochie in State House.
The upper legislative chamber confirmed her and 12 other nominees after Amos Bulus, chairman of the Niger Delta committee, presented a report on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
Buhari had asked the senate to confirm the nominees.
While presenting his committee’s report, Bulus said the nominees possess the requirements to be on the NDDC governing board.
Onochie’s appointment had been resisted on the grounds that she is not an oil-producing community
Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja had stopped the National Assembly from screening and confirming the nominated chairman and Managing Director of the NDDC, Onochie and Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
It had ordered that all actions on the matter be suspended pending the determination of the suit filed by Chief Edward Ekpokpo, Victor Wood (both representing the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT) and Edward Omagbemi (representing Omadino Unity Forum) on behalf of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, challenging the nomination of the duo as Chairman and MD of the NDDC board, Monday, December 12.
On December 23rd, a Federal High Court in Abuja had advised President Buhari, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Senate of the National Assembly, Onochie and Ogbuku on the consequences of flouting an earlier restraining order.
In a notice of the consequences of disobedience to the order of the court, the court passed directions to Buhari, Lawan, Onochie and Ogbuku, the court said: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison”.