LGA Autonomy: Supreme Court Gives Governors Seven Days To File Defence

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, ordered the 36 state governors of the federation seven days to file their respective defence in the suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 Local Governments in the country filed against them by the Federal Government.

The apex court ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who filed the suit on behalf of the federal government to reply to the Defendants’ processes within two days

upon receipt.

A seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court, led by Justice Garba Lawal issued the order while ruling on an application filed by the AGF, seeking abridgment of time in the filing and exchange of processes in the matter.

Fagbemi, while arguing the application requested the court to order the defendants to file their defense within five days in view of the urgency of the matter.

The chairman, body of Attorneys General of the states of the federation, Ben Odoh, who is also the Attorney General of Ebony did not object to the request for abridgment of time but however, requested that they be given 15 days as against the five days proposed by the AGF.

Justice Lawal, in his ruling, said the decision of the court was predicated on the national importance, urgency of the suit, and the nonobjection from the Attorneys General of the 36 states of the federation.

The Supreme Court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed within the time and subsequently fixed June 13, 2024, for hearing of the suit.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the Attorneys General of Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Sokoto states were absent in court and not represented by any lawyer despite being served with hearing notice.

Justice Lawal ordered that the eight states that were not in attendance at Thursday’s proceedings must be served with fresh hearing notice against the next adjourned date of June 13, 2024, for hearing of the matter.

The AGF, on behalf of the federal government, instituted the court action against the governors primarily seeking full autonomy for local governments as third tiers of government in the country.