LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT V THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT OF NASARAWA STATE&35 ORS
(2012) LCN/3922(SC)
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria
Friday, July 6, 2012
Case Number: SC. 66/2005
JUSTICES:
FRANCIS FEDODE TABAI JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
JOHN AFOLABI FABIYI JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
OLUFUNLOLA OYELOLA ADEKEYE JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
BODE RHODES-VTVOUR JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
OLUKAYODE ARIWOOLA JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
APPELLANTS
LAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT NASARAWA STATE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NASARAWA STATE
RESPONDENTS
EMMANUEL ANZAKUHARUNA ALLU FELICIA ALLU DANIEL NAMO AVU EZEKIEL CHARITY ENVULU AMINA MAGA BAENABAS ANGULU OBILE AKU KASIM AKU ALLU MUSA ATTAH.ISA EKKI PHILJP ABIMIKU ABDUL KIGBU PAULNA NASARA RHODA ABOYA BIATU SAMUEL AYOKA SAMUEL JAMES ALLU CHRISTIANA DAUDA AMOS AUDU ALICE KUDU AYAKA THOMAS EMMANUEL AKWADEN YUSUFINA DAVID ANTHONY AFIKU EMMANUEL AKPUDAVID AYA ASHA GABOGO SAMARI MIKA SHERARAUJAMES AGULE KASSE STEPHEN KUSKO USMAN BASHAYI SUNDAY KUSKO
(Delivered By Bode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC)
The respondents were employed by the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission and deployed to Lafia Local government Council.
In 1999 the governor of Nasarawa State issued a policy statement wherein he directed all unified Local Government staff serving in the various Local Government Councils other than their Councils of Origin to relocate to their Local Government Councils on their existing ranks and status. Staff of various councils who were not of Nasarawa State origin were directed to remain in the councils where they were working.
In compliance with the policy statement, Lafia Local Government Council set up a screening committee to screen its staff, (i.e the respondents and some others). The Screening Committee identified the respondents as indigenes of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council. Acting on the screening Committee’s Report, the respondents were deployed from Lafia Local Government Council to Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council. Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Council refused to accept the respondents.
The respondents were of the view that the policy statement of the Governor was a breach of their fundamental rights entrenched in the Constitution. They applied to the High Court for the enforcement of their fundamental rights and as applicants asked for the following reliefs:
- A declaration that the Nasarawa State Government
…
COUNSELS
M. Lmian, SAN (with him M.B. Usman; I. M Dikko; A. D. Auta) for the Appellant.
A. Akubo (with him C. J Omagbugon) for the 1st and 2nd Respondents.
Chief S. A. Ayioulu (with him Z. Z. Allumag; Dr. M. E. Ediru; M. D. Abubakar; C. C. Agu; and John Ovie) for the 3rd-36th Respondents.
