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ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
V.
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ABIA STATE & ORS

(2024) JELR 112687 (SC)

Supreme Court 11 Jul 2024 Nigeria
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- The plaintiff filed an originating summons raising questions about the obligations of state governments in ensuring democratic governance at the local government level in Nigeria. - The defendants raised preliminary objections, arguing th

Case Details

Suit Number:SC/CV/343/2024
Judges:MOHAMMED LAWAL GARBA, JSC EMMANUEL AKOMAYE AGIM, JSC CHIOMA EGONDU NWOSU-IHEME, JSC HARUNA SIMON TSAMMANI, JSC MOORE ASEIMO A. ADUMEIN, JSC HABEEB ADEWALE O. ABIRU, JSC JAMILU YAMMAMA TUKUR, JSC
Counsel:Lateef Fagbemi SAN (Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice), Yusuf Ali, SAN, S.T. Hon, SAN, T.A Gazali SAN (Dir. Civil Appeals Department, MOJ) and O.A Oloruntogbe, (Assistant Chief State Counsel, FMOJ) for the plaintiff. Ikechukwu Uwanna (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State), Nkeiru N. Akinola (Director Legal Services. DLS), MOJ, Abia State), Ihuoma Omokwe (Director), Nkolika Ubani (Senior Special Assistant to the Governor), Chinedu Amanamba (Assistant Chief State Counsel) for the 1st defendant. A.K. Jingi, (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adamawa State), J.A Waya, (Ag. Director Civil Litigation) with Z.U. Usman (Senior State Counsel 1) for the 2nd Defendant. Essien Udom SAN, Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN with Samuel Akpabio ESq, Oluwole Akindutire, Esq and Bassey J. Ekanem Esq for the 3rd Defendant. Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, with P. I. N. Ikweto SAN, Julius Mba Esq, Vincent Agbata Esq, Ebere Ngwu Esq, Timi Edward Esq and Jenifer Arueji Esq for the 4th Defendant. Hassan Usman EI-Yakubu SAN, (Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bauchi State), M.U. Usman (Deputy Director Public Prosecution DDPP) and S.M Toro (Chief State Counsel CSC) for the 5th Defendant. Emmanuel Yinfaowei (Solicitor- General of Bayelsa State) Ebiboye Erebi, (Principal State Counsel), and Michelle Zuokumor, (Principal State Counsel), and Lugard Tare-Otu for the 6th Defendant. F.B. Mnyim (Attorney General Benue State), E. Enyikwola (Director Citizens Rights, Z.O Onum, (Assistant Chief State Counsel), J.T Gwa, (Assistant Chief State Counsel) and E.N Agoh (Senior Chief State Counsel) for the 7th Defendant. J.J. Usman, SAN, with Bulus Adamu, Esq, (DCL, Borno State MOJ), C.O Ogbu, ESq, Asma'au Ahmed Esq and I.Q Abbey, Esq. for the 8th Defendant. Ededem C. Ani, Esq. (Attorney General, Cross River State), Anthony Effiom, Esq (Director, Civil Litigation), Gregory I. Okem Esq, (Director Public Prosecution), John Ogban Esq (Director Appeals), and Udenyi, Omaji Esq (Senior State Counsel 1) for the 9th defendant. Omamuzo Erebe, Esq (Solicitor-General, Delta State Ministry of Justice), S.O Monye, Esq (Director Civil Litigation), I.G. Eze­ Owenz, Esq (Director, Advisory Services), U.P. Okolotu, Esq (Principal State Counsel) and O.B. Okonye, Esq (Principal State Counsel) For the 10th defendant. Dr. Ben Uruchi Odoh (Attorney General of Ebonyi State), Israel Ikechukwu Alobu, Esq (Director, MOJ, Abakaliki), Ikenna Michael Nwidagu, Esq (Assistant Chief State Counsel, MOJ) and Sylvia Nnenna Nworie (Senior State Counsel, MOJ) F.N Ogbeuan (S.C MOJ Edo) State for the 11th Defendant. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Esq (Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Edo State), Prof. Faith Osadolor (Solicitor General, Edo State), Dr. Solomon Agbonhuku, Esosa Osula (DPPRS), Chukwuemeka Achugbu, Esq for the 12th Defendant. Dayo Akpata SAN, (Attorney General Ekiti State), Gbemiga Adaramola, (DCL, Ekiti State), Olalekan Suleman, (ACLO, Ekiti State), O.M Atibioke, Esq and A.O. Adeleye, Esq for the 13th Defendant. Dr. Kingsley T. Udeh (Attorney-General, Enugu State) with I.I. Eze (Director Appeal), Lillian Ogar (Senior Legal Officer), S.U. Madu, (DD Appeal and C.V. Asogwa-Ugwueze (Legal Officer) for the 14th Defendant. Umar Musa Pada (Senior State Council, MOJ Gombe State) Muzzammil Yahaya Esq for the 15th Defendant. Chief C.O.C Akaolisa (Attorney General-General, Imo State) with A.B.U Chikwe (PSC) and Mrs Ifeoma Charles Umeh Esq for the 16th Defendant. Bello A. Famini, (Attorney-General, Jigawa State) with Aliyu Abdullahi, (DDCL) and Aliyu Hassan Hassan (CSC) for the 17th Defendant. Sule Shu'aibu SAN (Attorney General, Kaduna State) with, Jumai Adamu Dan'Azumi, Esq (Solicitor General), Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed, Esq, Salvation Zainab Kyari, Esq (Senior State Counsel), Sadiya Nasir, (Senior State Counsel) and Aliyu Alhassan for the 18th Defendant. Ahmed Raji, SAN, (FCIArb. U.K) with Ibrahim Tukur Elsudi, Esq, Bimbo Atilola, Esq, Abdulkarim Maude, Esq and Peter Nwatu Esq for the 19th Defendant. Lukman O. Fagbemi SAN with A.A. Ibrahim, (Director Civil Litigations, Katsina State), Kamal O. Fagbemi, Esq, Khalil O. Ajana, Esq, K.A. Imafidon Esq, Ibrahim A. Saleh, Esq and I.O Adedoyin Esq for the 20th Defendant. J.B Marshall (Attorney -General Kebbi State) with Olanrewaju Osinaike Esq for the 21st Defendant J.B. Daudu SAN, (FCIArb, UK), A.M Aliyu, SAN, Ibrahim Sani Muhammad SAN, Aliyu O. Saiki SAN, and Adedayo Adedeji SAN for the 22nd Defendant. Senior Ibrahim Sulyman Esq, (Attorney General, Kwara State) with Isiaq Abdulrasheed Olorundare Esq (State Counsel 1 at Kwara State MOJ), A.M. Bello Esq, (Director Civil Litigation) and Hussein Afolabi Esq for the 23rd Defendant. Lawal Pedro, SAN. (FCIArb, (Attorney General, Lagos State), Ade Ipaye, OFR, FCARB), Hameed Oyenuga Esq. (DCL, MOJ, Lagos State), E.R. Agu (DD) and A.P Ameh ESq for the 24th Defendant. S.M Labaran Esq, (Attorney General, Nasarawa Stat), Y.Y. Ede (Director Civil Litigation), with E.U AliyuEsq, (Deputy Director Legal Drafting), M.J. Abokee (Deputy Director Law Reform) and B.A. Jankat Esq for the 25th Defendant. J.J. Usman, SAN with Mrs. Abdul-Aziz Esq, D.O Atita Esq and N.U. Usman Esq for the 26th Defendant. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, (OFR. SAN, FCIArb.), O.M Atoyebi, SAN, Tunde Afe-Babalola, SAN, FCIArb, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN with Opemipo Owotume Esq for the 27th Defendant. Dr. Olukayode Ajulo SAN, (Attorney General, Ondo State) with O.F. Bosun Kwadjo Esq, Emanuel Patrick Esq, Eniola Oyelami Esq and Magaret Aguocha Esq for the 28th Defendant. Oluwole Jimi-Bada, Esq, John E. Opaluwa, Esq, Nurdeen Hakeem Esq and Jide Obisakin, Esq for the 29th Defendant. Abiodun Aikomo (Attorney General, Oyo State), N.A Abiola Esq (Director Legal Drafting and Ministerial Counseling), Adeola Adeleke (Assistant Chief State Counsel) for the 30th Defendant. P.A Daffi (Attorney General, Plateau State) with J.M Mantu (ADCR & LR MOJ), D.N. Yilji Esq, (Assistant Director Public Prosecution) Alfred Danbaba, (Private Lawyer - Pro Bono) and Chuwang D. Gyang (Private Lawyer - Pro Bono) for the 31st Defendant. I.D. Iboroma SAN (Attorney General, Rivers State), Uzor Ikenga (Assistant. Director Rivers State MOJ), Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, R.O Adakole and Tonye Chris-Shalom Esq for the 32nd Defendant. Mohammed Nasiru Binji Esq (Attorney General, Sokoto State), L.S. Wali Esq (Director Civil Litigation) and Amanzi F Amanzi Esq for the 33rd Defendant. G.A. Idiagbonya Esq with P.N. David (PSC, MOJ Taraba State) and J.M. Vokna for the 34th Defendant. Saleh Samanja, (Attorney General, Yobe State), Baba DalaFika Esq, Ismail Usman Esq and Muhammad S. Dan'azumi Esq for the 35th Defendant. Abdulaziz Sani, SAN (Attorney General, Zamfara State), Abdul Ahmad Esq (DPP), Mustapha Aikawa Esq, and Amina Muhammad Esq (CSC) for the 36th Defendant

EMMANUEL AKOMAYE AGIM, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): On 24-5-2024, the plaintiff filed an originating summons commencing this Suit No. SC/CV/343/2024 in this Court. The originating summons raised the following questions for determination -

  1. “Whether, by the combined reading of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3), 4(7), 5(2) (a) and (b) and 3(c), 7(1) and (3) and 14(1), (2)(a), (c) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the 36 State of Nigeria, or anyone of them, acting through their/its respective state Governors and or State House of Assembly, are/is not under obligation to ensure democratic governance at the third tier of government in Nigeria, namely, at the Local Government level?

  2. Whether, by the combined reading of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3), 4(7), 5(2) (a) and (b) and 3(c), 7(1) and (3) 14(1), (2) (a), (c) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the 36 States of Nigeria, or anyone of them, act…

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