A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a suit filed by the Attorneys General of the 36 State to challenge the deduction of $418m from States’ funds to settle debts owed consultants engaged by the States and Local Governments.
By the suit, the plaintiffs sought an order to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari and others from effecting the planned deduction from States’ funds to settle the debt owed consultants in relation to the Paris Club refunds.
Delivering judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the Attorneys General had not shown enough evidence to accord them the locus standi to institute the action.
The court held that the contention of the Plaintiff that it was not party to the judgment debt did not hold waters because the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Association of Local Governments were parties in the suit.
The judge further held that the action of the plaintiff amounted to an abuse of court process and consequently dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
