THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF ABIA STATE OF NIGERIA V. ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION & ORS.
(2005) JELR 45225 (SC)
Supreme Court
•
SC.245/2003
•
10 Jun 2005
•
Nigeria
Coram
MUHAMMADU LAWAL UWAIS JSC;
GEORGE OGUNTADE JSC;
AKINTOLA OLUFEMI EJIWUNMI JSC;
DAHIRU MUSDAPHER JSC;
DENNIS ONYEJIFE EDOZIE JSC;
SALIHU MODIBBO ALFA BELGORE JSC;
IGNATIUS CHUKWUDI PATS-ACHOLONU JSC;
Appearances
Awa U. Kalu, SAN (with him, U. E. Amaonwu [Mrs.], PS/SG,Min. of Justice, Abia State; State; C. S. Chioma [Mrs.], DCL, Min. of Justice, Abia State; O. K. Odabi, Esq., Asst. Chief State Counsel,Min. of Justice, Abia State and I. C. Nwachukwu, Esq., PSC, Min. of Justice, Abia State) - for the Plaintiff For Appellant
Chief Makanjuola Esan, SAN (with him, O. Olowokere, [Mrs.] and Olayinka Esan, Esq.) - for the 1st Defendant2nd Defendant unrepresentedU. Udom, Esq. - for the 3rd DefendantU. N. Udechukwu, SAN (with him, A. G. Idigo-Izundu [Mrs.]and N. J. Obika, Esq.) - for the 4th Defendant5th Defendant unrepresentedTalford Ongolo, Esq., Hon. Attorney-General, Bayelsa State) (with him, D. Fiderikumo, Esq.) - for the 6th DefendantDavid I. Alum, Esq., DDLD (with him. C. Mbafan Ekpendu, Esq., (SC)) -for the 7th Defendant8th Defendant unrepresentedPhilip Ikpo, Esq., Director of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice, Cross River State -for the 9th Defendant A. A. Utuama, Esq., Attorney-General, Delta State (with him,O. Pedro, Esq.; W. Ogbogu, Esq., CLO and E. Ohwovoriole,Esq.) - for the 10th DefendantChief J. C. Eze, Attorney-General, Ebonyi State (with him, S.U. Ewu, Esq.; Chief Legal Officer) - for the 11th Defendant12th Defendant unrepresentedA. A. Adeleye, Esq., DLR (with him, E. K. Adetiga, Esq., SLO)- for the 13th Defendant14th Defendant unrepresented15th Defendant unrepresentedJ. T. U. Nnodum, SAN, Attorney-General, Imo State (with him,T. E. Chikeka [Mrs.]. DCL and Y. C. Nwagu, Esq.) - for the16th DefendantO. E. B. Offiong, Esq. (with him, M. B. Adoke, Esq.) -for the17th Defendant18th Defendant unrepresented19th Defendant unrepresented20th Defendant unrepresentedAbubakar Malami, Esq. (with him, Nuhu Musa Moh., Esq.) forthe 21st DefendantPrince Ben S. Ikani, Attorney-General, Kogi State (with him,Osa Obayomi Ali, Esq.) - for the 22nd DefendantSaka A. Isau, Esq., Attorney-General, Kwara State (with him,H. A. Gegele, Esq., Senior State Counsel, Ministry of Justice,Kwara State) -for the 23rd DefendantLawal Pedro, HDCL (with him, Ade Ipaye, Esq.) -for the 24thDefendant25th Defendant unrepresentedM. O. Kiadi, Esq., PLP - for the 26th DefendantAkin Osinbajo, Attorney-General, Ogun State (with him, O. A.Koleowo, Esq., ADCL) - for the 27th DefendantA. O. Adebusoye, Esq., SG/PS, Ondo State (with him, L. K.Akinrinsola, Esq., DCL and Daniel Onuluin, Esq., ACLO) forthe 28th DefendantAdedotun Onibokun (Mrs.), Director of Litigation, Min. ofJustice, Osun State - for the 29th DefendantM. O. Isola, DPP, Oyo State (with him, A. I. Raheen, Esq.,PLO) - for the 30th DefendantF. B. Lotben (Mrs.), DCL- for the 31st DefendantM. U. Wakama (Mrs.), Director, Civil Litigation Dept. (withher, Soye Lolomari [Miss]) -for the 32nd DefendantSuleiman Abdulkadir, Esq. -for the 33rd DefendantJ. D. Yakubu, Esq., DCL (with him, E. H. Gowon, Esq., StateCounsel) - for the 34th DefendantI. S. Kogo, Esq., DCL - for the 35th Defendant36th Defendant unrepresented For Respondent
Judgement
<p>EJIWUNMI, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This action was commenced by the Attorney-General of Abia State against the Federation and the other States identified in the writ of summons under and by virtue of the provisions of section 232(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 which vested original jurisdiction in this court in any dispute between the Federation and a State or between States if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.</p><p> In the case under consideration, the questions raised by the plaintiff against the Federation and thirty-five other States of the Federation for determination by this court are as follows: -</p><p> "1. A determination of the question whether or not the States (Creation and Transitional Provisions) (No.2) Decree (No. 41) 1991 is in force as a law enacted by the National Assembly and creates Abia State of Nigeria without further assuranc…</p>
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