The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the Attorneys-General of the 36 states against the Federal Government.
In the suit, the states are challenging the planned deduction of $418 million from the Federation Account to settle debts owed consultants engaged by the states and local governments in relation to the Paris Club refunds.
Trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, dismissed the suit in a judgement delivered on Friday, saying the attorneys-general have not shown enough evidence to accord them the right to institute the action.
He held that there was no express evidence to show that the governors of the 36 states consented to the filing of the suit.
According to the judge, the office of the Attorney-General of a state was created under Section 195 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and the AG of a state is appointed by a governor, which makes the AG an appointee who is under the control of a governor.
He held that the contention of the plaintiffs that it was not a party to the judgment debt did not hold water because the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Association of Local Governments were parties in the suit.
The court further held that the plaintiffs had acknowledged the existence of judgment debt, insisting that the filing of the suit was a ploy to challenge the judgment debt.
Details later…
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Court dismisses suit Court dismisses suit
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…Court dismisses suit Court dismisses suit
By Musa Nafada Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has embarked on an ambitious mission to rewrite…
By Adagher Tersoo WHEN Arch. Sunday Echono was appointed Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education…
Friday, June 13, marked the midterm of the 10th National Assembly, our country’s foremost parliamentary…
By Bimpe Omoyiwola THE university is a crucial part of the higher education system with…
" Trade facilitation laws, tariff harmonisation, and customs reforms to reduce bottlenecks and ensure Nigeria…
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on journalists across Nigeria to deepen their…
This website uses cookies.