The apex court in the land, the Supreme Court on Thursday, 13 June 2024, in Abuja outrightly declined to allow the State Houses of Assembly to be joined as defendants in the suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 State Governors demanding full autonomy for the 774 Local Governments in the country.

The apex court held that the State Houses of Assembly do not have anything to do in the matter for reasons of law and jurisdiction. President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, at Thursday’s proceedings, applied on behalf of the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly to be joined as a party in the matter.

However, Justice Garba Lawal, who is leading a seven-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, interrupted and asked if the State Houses of Assembly can legally join a matter between the Federal Government and the State Governors. Justice Garba Lawal further asked the NBA President if the apex court has jurisdiction as a court of first instance in any matter involving the State Houses of Assembly.

Responding, Maikyau made an effort to cite legal authorities to back up the request of his client, but the court declined to accept the request.

He therefore withdrew from the proceedings after which processes of the Federal Government and those of the State Governors were ordered to be adopted.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had on behalf of the Federal Government, initiated the legal action against the Governors, primarily seeking full autonomy for Local Governments as the third tier of government in the country.

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