The Court to hear Osun’s objections on LG funds suit on Sept 29. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, fixed September 29 for the hearing of a motion filed by the Osun State Government, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain a suit relating to withheld local government funds in the Abuja Division.
When the matter was called upon for hearing, the Osun government, in a motion filed by its lead counsel, Musibau Adetunmbi, SAN, argued that since the court vacation ended on September 16, the matter should be returned to Osogbo for appropriate hearing and determination.
Adetumbi, premised the motion on two grounds: first, that the fiat granted by the Attorney General of the Federation allowing the matter to be heard during the court vacation in Abuja had been overtaken by events, as the vacation had ended; and second, that the validity of a purported letter from the office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court assigning Justice Emeka Nwite to determine the case in Abuja was questionable.
Adetumbi argued that the letter was signed by an individual described as the Personal Assistant to the Personal Assistant of the Chief Judge.