By Abiola Olawale
Eight out of the 36 States of the Federation failed to send legal representatives to the Supreme Court over ongoing lawsuit seeking an order granting full autonomy to all Local Government Areas in the country as the third tier of government.
It was gathered that Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto, failed to send legal counsel to represent their respective state at the commencement of court proceedings on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Although they were served with hearing notice, as required by law, the states was not represented by their Attorneys-General or private legal practitioners.
The New Diplomat reports that the Federal Government had filed a legal action against the 36 State Governors over alleged misconduct and inappropriate behaviour in the administration of Local Governments.
The Federal Government, in the suit marked: SC/CV/343/2024, filed before the Supreme Court by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is seeking an order, granting full autonomy to all LGAs in the country as the third tier of government.
The government is also seeking an order, barring the state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically-elected local government leaders.
