The Special Adviser to Deputy Senate President on Legislative and Plenary Matters, Prince Efe Duku has filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the approval of a N150 billion loan request granted by the Delta State House of Assembly to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Duku revealed the filing of the lawsuit FHC/ASB/CS/66/2022 in a statement released on Friday, May 13, 2022, titled, “TO PROTECT OUR STATE, I HAVE INSTITUTED A COURT ACTION TO STOP THE N150 BILLION LOAN”.
Recall that the Sheriff Oborewvori-led Delta State House of Assembly granted Governor Okowa’s request for a N150 billion loan facility on Thursday, April 26, 2022, to the chagrin of Deltans. With the two legal entities being joined as defendants in the suit.
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Other defendants include Zenith Bank, Delta State Attorney General, Minister of Finance, Debt Management Bureau and the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to the him, the N150bn loan request lacks urgency, substance and follows a pattern of reckless borrowing and therefore must be stopped to protect the future of Delta State.
The statement reads, “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 legislation.
“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 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.
