The Supreme Court on Friday declared that the dissolution of local governments council in Oyo State by the state government is illegal.
The apex court, in its ruling, condemned the replacement of the local governments with caretaker committees.
The court delivered judgment on the case brought before it by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) of the previous administration under the leadership of Abass Aleshinloye against the judgment of the Appeal Court which favoured Governor Seyi Makinde-led government.
In its judgment, the court noted that the tenures of the sacked Council chairmen and Councillors have expired but all outstanding salaries and allowances must be paid with immediate effect.
The court fined Oyo State Government a sum of N20million for perpetrating illegality.
Recall that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), had earlier directed the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to reverse himself over the dissolution of local government administration in the state.
The directive was made known via a letter to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Prof. Oyewo Oyelowo.
The letter which was dated 14 January 2020, marked HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.I/I, was entitled, “Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected local government councils and appointment of the caretaker committee: the urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions”.
The AGF stated that in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 states of the Federation, “the common practice by some state governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void.”
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