NBA President, Afam Osigwe Faults Federal High Court Over Osun LG Crisis
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), has criticized the Federal High Court for handling a case related to the local government crisis in Osun State, asserting that such matters should fall under the jurisdiction of the state high court.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Punch on Sunday, Osigwe expressed concern that the legal missteps by the Federal High Court in deciding matters beyond its jurisdiction contributed to the ongoing crisis in Osun.
While acknowledging that he had not fully reviewed the Court of Appeal judgment, he questioned the basis for the Federal High Court’s involvement in local government administration issues, emphasizing that such cases should be filed and determined at the state level.
He stated:
“What is the business of the Federal High Court in making decisions on local government elections in a state? That is the root of the problem in Osun.”
“Does the Federal High Court have the jurisdiction to determine whether a law concerning local government elections is valid or not?”
“Why are such cases brought before the Federal High Court instead of the State High Court? And why does the Federal High Court entertain them?”
Osigwe further pointed out that most of the cases that eventually went on appeal originated from the Federal High Court, urging lawyers to file such cases in the appropriate courts to avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
