ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.Â
The court heard arguments from the 36 state governors, who challenged the Federal Government of Nigeria’s legal right to initiate the action and sought dismissal of the suit.
The Federal Government of Nigeria’s suit, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, seeks to grant LGAs autonomy as the third tier of government, prohibit state governors from dissolving democratically elected local government leaders, and direct funds to LGAs from the Federation Account.
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The state governors, in separate preliminary objections, argued that the Federal Government of Nigeria lacked the legal right to initiate the action and that the suit was an abuse of the judicial process.
They also alleged that the AGF breached their rights to a fair hearing by failing to serve them with a copy of a further affidavit filed in support of the suit.
After listening to the arguments, the seven-man panel of the court, led by Justice Garba Lawal, reserved judgment, indicating that the court would communicate the judgment date to the parties involved.
The outcome of this suit has significant implications for the governance and funding of local government areas in Nigeria.