The Supreme Court has ordered the 36 state governors of the federation to, within seven days, file their respective defenses.
The order was given by Justice Garba Lawal after the federal government filed a suit seeking full autonomy for the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.
According to Leadership, the apex court issued the order while ruling on an application for an abridgment 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’ defenses. 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 said 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. 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.
Former President Jonathan: LGA, Councils Deserve Full Autonomy
In a related development, It was reported that former president Goodluck Jonathan also revealed his determination to fight for full autonomy for the local councils in 2012. Goodluck Jonathan said no meaningful development could be achieved in the country if the councils were not vibrant and not given full autonomy to function.
According to him, 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 as expected.
