Delta State: Gov. Okowa been sued over DESTMA appointment.

A legal practitioner Omemiroro Ogedegbe Esq, who also doubles as a human rights activist has stated that Cdr Azubuike Idah (Rtd) is unqualified for the office of Director General, Delta State Traffic Management Authority
(DESTMA).

This statement was revealed through a summon before the Ughelli High Court Judicial Division, with suit No. UHC/171/019, where the Delta State governor , Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was dragged to court over the purported Appointment of Cdr Azubuike Idah Rtd as DG DESTMA .

Also joined in the originating summons, as 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Respondents, are Delta State House of Assembly, Delta State Traffic
Management Agency (DESTMA) and Cdr Azubuike Idah (Rtd), respectively.

In the said affidavit to support his originating summons with Suit No.
UHC/171/019 before the Ughelli High Court Judicial Division, Mr. Ogedegbe is
seeking a declaration that the purported appointment of Azubuike Idah as
DESTMA Director General by Governor Okowa without confirmation of the
Delta State House of Assembly 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”.

Furthermore, the human rights 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 Mr. Idah was appointed Head of Operations of
DESTMA in 2013 and does not possess the requisite 10years 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.

Good journalism costs a lot of money, only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, accountability democracy and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism, we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble profession.