The Federal Government has dragged the 36 state governors before the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct in the affairs of local governments, while seeking full autonomy for the third tier of government in the country.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), 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.
In the suit, the AGF is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.
The Chief Law Officer of the Federation, in the originating summons he personally signed, is also praying the Supreme Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
He also wants the Apex Court to make an order stopping governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.
