The Supreme Court has reserved judgement in the suit against the 36 State Governors seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country.
Justice Garba Lawal announced the reservation of the judgment after the 7-man panel of the Apex Court had taken adoption of processes filed by the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Lateef Fagbemi on behalf of the federal government and those of the 36 State Governors.
At Thursday’s proceedings, all Attorneys General of the 36 states were present in court.
The application by President of the Nigeria Bar Association Yakubu Maikyau on behalf of the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly seeking to be joined as a party in the matter was first heard and consequently refused.
Justice Garba Lawal, asked if the State Houses of Assembly can legally joined a matter between the federal government and the State Governors
The court also challenged the NBA President if the Apex Court has jurisdiction as a court of first instance in any matter involving the State Houses of Assembly and held that the Houses of Assembly have no business in the matter for reasons of law and jurisdiction.
Shortly after, the attorney general of the federation,Lateef Fagbemi urged the Court to grant all the reliefs sought by the federal government in the suit.
The governors through their respective State Attorneys General and Commissioner for Justice took turns to address the court asking it to dismiss the suit.
The seven man panel reserved the judgement on a date to be communicated .
The Federal Government took the 36 state governors before the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct seeking full autonomy for local governments as the third tier of government in the country.
In the suit the AGF is asking the Supreme Court for an order prohibiting State Governors from unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders for local governments.
He also sought the order of the Apex Court stopping governors from constituting Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
