The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a suit instituted by the 36 states’ Attorneys-General challenging plans by the federal government to deduct funds from the federation account to settle $418 million judgment debt in relation to Paris Club refund.
There are a total of 43 defendants, including the judgement creditors, sued in the suit that was filed by the 36 state Attorneys-General on October 27, 2021.to settle the controversial judgment debts until his court’s resolution of the issues.But delivering judgement on the suit, on Friday, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, held that the states Attorneys-General lack the legal standing to institute the lawsuit without their governors’ consent.
“This suit does not fall within the class of suits that can be initiated by the State Attorneys-General without the consent of the governors,” the judge held.