AGF Adoke Nullifies Swearing In Of Idris Wada In Kogi, Says Speaker Should Take Over-PREMIUM TIMES

The chief law officer of the federation says Speaker should take over from five governors sacked by Supreme Court this morning Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has asked all five state governors sacked by Friday's supreme Court ruling to immediately hand over to speakers of their various state assemblies.

The attorney-general gave the orders in a statement issued Friday after the Supreme Court delivered judgment in the appeal emanating from the judgment of the Court of Appeal in respect of the tenure of the five governors - Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto and Kogi states - ruling that their tenures expired in May last year.

“The Federal Government acknowledges the judgment of the Supreme Court and in line with the provisions of Section 191(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” Mr. Adoke said.

The Attorney General's statement is apparently a reaction to the development in Kogi State where the President of the Customary Court of Appeal was railroaded into swearing in Governor-elect Idris Wada as successor to ousted Governor Ibrahim Idris, and in Adamawa State, where Murtala Nyako appears unwilling to leave office.

Mr. Adoke directed, "the Honourable Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly of the affected states to take over the governance of their respective states pending the conduct of fresh governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

In Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross River state, the attorney general’s order is a non-issue but Kogi and Adamawa might be headed for collision with the federal government.

Mr. Nyako is staying put in Adamawa. He said the Supreme Court ruling has no “consequential orders.”

In Kogi, the ousted governor, Ibrahim Idris, brought in the president of the Customary Court to swear in Mr. Wada, the governor elect.

The Kogi State chief judge had refused to swear in Mr. Wada, saying he should be given time to understand the Supreme Court judgment. But the state government quickly brought in the President of the Customary Court of Appeal to administer oath on Mr. Wada and his deputy.

“The Inspector-General of Police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to put in placeappropriate security measures to ensure orderly transition and to avoid any breach of the peace,” the attorney general added.

As at the time of filing this report, the Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly is heading to the High Court Complex where sources said he might be sworn in as acting governor.

Read full statement below.

PRESS RELEASE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA IN REACTION TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT RELIEVING THE 5 GOVERNORS OF THEIR OFFICE

Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered judgment in the appeal emanating from the judgment of the Court of Appeal in respect of the tenure of the five governors namely Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto and Kogi states. The Court decided that the five governors had since completed their tenure and accordingly relieved them of their office.

The Federal Government acknowledges the judgment of the Supreme Court and in line with the provisions of Section 191(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, calls on the Honourable Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly of the affected states to take over the governance of their respective states pending the conduct of fresh governorship elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Inspector-General of Police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to put in place, appropriate security measures to ensure orderly transition and to avoid any breach of the peace.

The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the observance of the rule of law in all parts of the federation and therefore calls on the political leadership in the affected states to give full effect to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

MR MOHAMMED BELLO ADOKE, SAN, CFR
HONOURABLE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE