The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the suit seeking full autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
All 36 states are the defendants in the suit marked SC/CV/343/2024.
The federal government is also asking for an order preventing the governors from arbitrarily dissolving democratically elected councils.
We have an originating summons dated and filed 20 May, 2024.
At the court session on Thursday, all the states, represented by their attorneys-general and lawyers, adopted their respective processes and prayed the court to dismiss the suit.
Some of the states also said they were being denied fair hearing adding that the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) failed to serve them with the process of his further affidavits filed on June 10.
In his submission, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), prayed the court to dismiss all preliminary objections filed by the states and grant the originating summons.
“I adopt and rely on these processes. I urge my lords to overrule the various objections and grant the originating summons,” the AGF said.
On the issue of fair hearing, the AGF said he sent copies of the affidavits to the defendants via WhatsApp and emails. He said the court bailiff also served the defendants.
After listening to the lawyers in the suit, a seven-member panel of justices, led by Garba Lawal, said a date for judgment will be communicated to the parties.
Source: TheCable