Governor Okowa and Speaker Sheriff
* Seeks loan void
By Jon Egie
Prince Henry Efe Duku in his capacity as a citizen of Delta State has dragged Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State House of Assembly and the Zenith Bank Plc to the Federal Court, Asaba in Suit No. FHC/ASB/CS/66/2022 over a N150 billion loan sought by the governor of Delta State and approved by the Delta State House of Assembly.
Others also dragged to the court as defendants in the suit are: Attorney general of Delta State, Minister of Finance, Debt Management Bureau and Attorney general of the Federation.
They were commanded by the court, to within eight days after the service of the writ cause an appearance to be entered for themselves in an action contained in the suit cautioning that the Claimant may proceed with the matter and judgement may be given in their absence if they default.
A statement issued by the Claimant on his verified facebook page recalled that on Thursday, April 26, 2022, the Delta State House of Assembly approved a N150 Billion loan request from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
“Although it has no compelling substance and urgency, the loan was hastily approved by the House. A loan that must eat deep into and sacrifice the future of our State. Amongst others, the action filed seeks to void the approval by the House for being reckless and manifestly unlawful when weighed against relevant legislations.
“Carefully analysed, this so-called loan is part of a troubling pattern of reckless borrowing, intolerable fiscal irresponsibility, wastefulness, and lawlessness in Delta’s public finance management. It speaks to extreme corruption in the conduct of public governance in our State.
“Also, the loan is shrouded in voodoo economics. It is driven by very disrespectful propaganda that ignores the capacity of Deltans to detect and resist obvious wrongs.
“Fellow Deltans, for these reasons, and even much more, it is necessary to take every civilised step under our Constitution and laws to stop this loan that clearly spells a terrible economic disaster for our future. Inaction by vigilant citizens is not an option when government becomes manifestly dubious and even an existential threat to the citizens themselves.
“Accordingly, having consulted very widely amongst our people, good governance activists/advocacy groups and many respected political, religious, women, youth, and professional leaders of our State at home and abroad, I have instituted an action at the Federal High Court to stop the loan. I am wholly convinced that this is a necessary step to protect our treasury and Delta’s future from the imminent and clear danger that the Okowa government is. This is for the collective good of our people.
“It should be taken for granted that no party to this action will take any precipitous step that may touch on the issues already submitted to the court for determination. All parties ought to be wisely guided and strongly restrained until the law speaks with finality before any step may be taken. ” He added.
