Law News
Lagos appeals judgment on local government caretaker committees

The Lagos State Government has appealed an high court judgment, which  voided the appointment of caretaker committees for local government areas and local council development areas.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, in a statement yesterday, said the government has filed a notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution of the judgment at the Appeal Court in Lagos.

The Appeal Court has adjourned hearing of the application for stay of execution to the November 18.

Justice Abdulfatal Lawal last Friday declared the appointment of caretaker committees for local government areas in the state as illegal and unconstitutional.

He gave the verdict in a suit filed by the National Conscience Party (NCP), through its lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

The judge directed the Lagos State Independent National Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to conduct elections in all local governments within 30 days.

Justice Lawal held that no governor is empowered by the constitution to take over the administration of local governments through the appointment of sole administrators or caretaker committees.

The court rejected the argument of LAISEC that it was waiting for voter register from INEC since the same voter register and polling booths were used for the April, 2015 elections.

Sources from the LASIEC said, the commission is yet to get the voter register from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Nation learnt that LASIEC had made a request to the INEC to supply the commission with the latest voter register but that request has not been acceded to.

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