By Luka Binniyat

KADUNA—Justice Mairo Mohammed of Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, yesterday, sacked the Interim Management Committees, IMC, appointed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai to run the 23 local government councils of Kaduna State.

Delivering judgment on a case by Mr. Alex Hyamu against Governor el-Rufai and three others, challenging the propriety and constitutionality of constituting the committees, the judge said their existence was “unconstitutional and, as such, null and void” and ordered for fresh elections for the councils within 90 days of the judgment.

Hyamu had sued Kaduna State Governor, Kaduna State Attorney General, Kaduna House of Assembly Speaker and Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, as first to fourth defendants, respectively.

He had asked for determination and sought relief on “whether the provision of Section 13(3) (a)(b)(c) and (d) of Kaduna State Local Government Administration (amendment law) 2016, which empowers the governor and Kaduna State House of Assembly to appoint IMC without conducting democratic election is not inconsistent with provision of Section 1(2) and Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; and by virture whereof they are unconstitutional, null and void to that extent.”

In her judgment, Justice Mairo Mohammed granted the wishes of Hyamu. She then ordered for fresh elections in the 23 councils of Kaduna State within 90 days of the ruling, based on the provision of No. 10 Kaduna SIECOM law of 2012.