- Supreme Court Strikes Out Osun’s Suit on Withheld LG Funds.
- Judges say only LG councils can sue over withheld funds.
- Court urges full implementation of nationwide LG fiscal autonomy.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a suit filed by the Osun State Government seeking to compel the Federal Government to release allocations allegedly withheld from Local Government Councils in the state. A seven member panel ruled six to one that the case lacked merit.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the Osun State Government did not have the legal standing to initiate the matter on behalf of its 30 Local Government Areas.
He noted that the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction applies strictly to disputes between a state and the Federal Government, while Local Government Councils are recognised as independent entities capable of suing and being sued.
The panel rejected the argument by the Osun Attorney General that the action qualified as a public interest case.
While the court upheld the preliminary objection filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, it reminded the Federal Government of its responsibility to fully implement the judgment granting fiscal autonomy to all 774 Local Government Areas nationwide.
