The Federal Government has initiated legal proceedings against the 36 State Governors at the Supreme Court, alleging misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas (LGAs).
In the suit, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the FG seeks full autonomy for all LGAs as the third tier of government. The FG is seeking several reliefs from the apex court, including:
– An order prohibiting State Governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government leaders.
– An order directing that funds meant for local governments be channelled directly to them from the Federation Account, as provided by the Constitution.
– An order stopping Governors from constituting Caretaker Committees to run local government affairs, which is contrary to the Constitutionally recognized democratic system.
– An injunction restraining Governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending, or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for local governments when no democratically elected local government system is in place The 36 State Governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General.
In the 27 grounds supporting the suit, the FG argued that Nigeria, as a federation, was created by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and that the President swore an oath to uphold and give effect to its provisions.
