LG autonomy suit: S’court gives governors 7 days to file defence
The Supreme Court has ordered governors of the 36 states of the federation to file their respective defences in a suit instituted against them by the Federal Government as regards granting full autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country.
When the matter came up on Thursday, a seven-member panel of the apex court, led by Garba Lawal, also ordered the governors, represented by the state attorneys-general, to file their responses to the originating summons within seven days.
The apex court also directed Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, to file his response within two days after receiving the responses of the states.
It agreed with the AGF that abridgment of time was necessary in the case due to its national imperative, adding that the Supreme Court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed before June 10.
Eight states, Kano, Borno, Oyo, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Osun, and Ogun, did not attend Thursday’s proceedings despite being served with hearing notices must be served with fresh ones and adjourned the matter to June 13 for hearing of the suit.