The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the suit filed for the Federal Government by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) against States in relation to the dispute over the autonomy of Nigerias 774 local government councils.
All 36 States of the federation 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, in an originating summons dated and filed 20 May, 2024.
At the court session yesterday, 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), Lateef Fagbemi, failed to serve them with the process of his further affidavits filed on June 10.
In his submission, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, prayed the court to dismiss all preliminary objections filed by the States and grant the originating summons.
In the suit filed by Fagbemi, the Federal Fovernment also requested the supreme court to authorise the direct transfer of funds from the federation account to local governments in accordance with the Constitution.
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 lawyers to all the parties adopted their final addresses and made final submissions, a seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Garba Lawal, made the announcement on the reservation of the judgment shortly after, saying a date for judgment will be communicated to the parties.
Recall that the Federal Government asked the apex court to invoke sections 1, 4, 5, 7 and 14 of the Constitution to declare that the governors and State Houses of Assembly are under obligation to ensure democratically-elected systems at the third-tier.
