BREAKING: Supreme Court Gives 36 Governors 7 Days To File Defence Against Tinubu’s Govt

• The 36 state governors of the federation have seven days to file defences in a suit seeking full autonomy for LGA
• The federal government has dragged the 36 state governors to court over alleged misconduct in the handling of LG affairs
• Justice Garba Lawal of the Supreme Court fixed June 13, 2024, for the hearing of the suit filed against the governors

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy

FCT, Abuja - The Supreme Court has ordered the 36 state governors of the federation to, within seven days, file their respective defences

Justice Garba Lawal gave the order after the federal government filed a suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.

Read also

Breaking: Tension in Rivers as court bars Amaewhule-led assembly, details emerge

According to Leadership, the apex court issued the order while ruling on an application for an abridgement of the time argued by the AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN on Thursday, May 30.

Justice Lawai also ordered that Fagbemi must file his reply within two days upon receipt of the governors’ defences.

He explained that the Supreme Court decision was predicated on the national urgency of the suit and the non-objection from the attorneys general of the states of the federation.

The judge that the 8 states - Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto, whose attorneys general were absent in court must be served with fresh hearing notice, The Nation reports.

Read also

Kano emirate tussle: Police react as Governor Yusuf orders arrest of protesters

Justice fixed June 13 for the hearing of the suit filed against the 36 state governors over alleged misconduct in the handling of local government affairs

Jonathan: LGA, councils deserve full autonomy

In a related development, Legit.ng reported that former president Goodluck Jonathan also declared his readiness to fight for full autonomy for the local councils in 2012.

Jonathan said no meaningful development could be achieved in the country if the councils were not vibrant and not allowed to function.

He said since the councils were the closest tier of government to the people, the rising wave of insecurity in the country would have been reduced if they were functioning well.

Source: Legit.ng