The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 29 for hearing of a motion by the Osun state government challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear a suit against withheld Local Government fund in Abuja Division of the court.
The state government on Monday, insisted that since the vacation of the court came to an end on September 16, the case should be transferred back to Osogbo for appropriate hearing and determination of the suit.
It’s motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Abuja Division was predicated on two grounds which are that, the fiat granted the Attorney General of the Federation for the matter the matter to be heard doing vacation in Abuja had been overtaken on the ground that the vacation has come to an end.
The motion filed by its lead counsel, Musibau Adetumbi, SAN also challenged the validity of a purported letter from the office of the Chief Judge of the court mandating Justice Emeka Nwite to substantively determine the suit in Abuja.
However, counsel to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Muritala Abdulrasheed, SAN and that of the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladoja, SAN, who are defendants in the suit challenged the application of the plaintiff, alleging that, it was a ploy to delay the expeditious hearing of the matter.
After taking arguments from the parties, Justice Nwite fixed September 29 to hear the application by the Osun state government and any other that borders on the jurisdiction first before proceeding to any other one.
