22 SANs To Address Supreme Court On Legality Of Buhari’s Executive Order 10
A group of 22 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) has descended on Nigeria’s Supreme Court to argue the legitimacy or otherwise of President Muhammadu Buhari’s contentious Executive Order 10.
On the invitation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, senior lawyers stormed the court as amicus curies (friends of the court) as early as 8 a.m. to make submissions that would help the court make an informed decision on the issue.
President Muhammadu Buhari issued Executive Order 10 earlier this year, granting budgetary autonomy to the state courts as well as the state legislature.
Following the state governors’ vigorous opposition to the presidential order, it became a divisive issue.
The governors then filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court to question its validity.
The amicus curiae, led by two past presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association, chiefs Adegboyega Awomolo and Olisa Agbakoba, are expected to argue whether the Executive Order is legal or not.
The plaintiffs are the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the Federation, led by the Attorney General of Abia State, while the defendant is the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.
The plaintiffs’ lead counsel is Chief Augustine Alegeh, a former President of the NBA and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, whereas the AGF’s lead counsel is Tijani Gazali, SAN.
A statement made available to DAILY POST read in part ” A very important constitutional matter between Attorney General, Abia State and 35 others and Attorney General of the Federation on the scope and framework for funding courts mentioned in section 6 of the Constitution and the constitutionality of Executive 10 made by the President will be coming up at 9 am before the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 4th of October 2021.
“The Plaintiff’s lead Counsel is Augustine Alegeh SAN, the Defence lead Counsel is T.A. Gazali, SAN.
“Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN and Chief Sebastine. Hon, SAN, are among the Amicus Curie”.
However, at the time of this report, the legal fireworks are yet to commence as the Supreme Court is struggling to have a full panel of seven justices to take the submissions.
Details later…
