The National Conscience Party of Nigeria has approached a Federal High Court in Lagos, asking it to stop allocation
of funds to Lagos State, from the federation accounts due to its
failure to conduct elections into local government areas.
Following a suit filed by the
party, a state high court had in 2015, declared the system of caretaker
committees for local governments in the State, null and void and ordered
elections within 90 days.
The state government appealed against the judgment and has not conducted the election till date.
In a fresh suit, marked
FHC/L/CS/198/2017, the NCP is seeking for a declaration that only
elected officers are entitled to run the affairs of all local
governments in the State.
The suit which was filed on
behalf of the party by human right lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu
Adegboruwa, want a declaration that the state is not entitled to benefit
from the federation account since it has refused to conduct local
government elections.
The party also wants the court
to stop the state from distributing money accruing from the federation
account to 'illegal' entities not recognized by the Constitution.
Listed as defendants in the suit are: Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In a 17-paragraph affidavit in
support of the suit, filed by Comrade Ayodele Akele, the National
Secretary of NCP, he stated that the Lagos State Government has been
sharing revenue accruing to local governments to 'illegal entities' such
as the local council development areas and caretaker committees not
recognized by the Constitution.
Among the relief sought by the
party is a declaration that only democratically constituted Local
Government Administrations are recognized under the 1999 Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The party also want the court to
declare that "only constitutionally recognized Local Government
Administrations can validly receive, appropriate, allocate, disburse
and/or expend revenues from the federation account meant for local
governments in Lagos State."
the suit further want a
declaration " that the continued allocation of revenues from the
federation account for the benefit of Local Governments in Lagos State
by the 2nd Defendant since November, 2014 up to the time of filing this
action is unconstitutional."
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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