Jonathan Nwokpor
The Nigerian Federal Government and the governors of its 36 states have initiated a heated legal battle at the Supreme Court about the Federal Government’s attempt to provide autonomy to the nation’s 774 local councils.
The Federal Government’s legal team is led by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, against the state governors, represented by several solicitors.
A seven-member panel of the Apex Court’s Justices presided over by Justice Garba Lawal, has begun deliberations to reasonably consider the matters at hand.
Two renowned attorneys, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Yusuf Olaolu Ali and Sebastien Hon, have offered to provide pro bono legal services supporting the federal government in the hectic legal battle.
The AGF is requesting an injunction from the Apex Court in action with case number SC/CV/343/2024 that forbids State Governors from unilaterally, arbitrarily, or illegally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders for local governments.
In the original summons, which he signed, the Chief Law Officer of the Federation also begged the Supreme Court for an order allowing local governments to receive funds in their credit directly from the Federation Account in accordance with the Constitution rather than through allegedly illegal joint accounts established by governors.
Additionally, he requested an order from the Supreme Court prohibiting governors from forming Caretaker Committees to manage local government operations in violation of the democratic system that the Constitution guarantees.
Furthermore, when no democratically elected local government system was established in the states, the federal government applied for an order prohibiting the governors, their representatives, and privies from accepting, using, or interfering with money released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments.
Details shortly.
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