The Supreme Court has struck out a suit by the 36 States’ Government, seeking to compel the Federal Government to account for its earnings from the sale of liquefied natural gas, natural gas liquids and related products since 1999.
In a unanimous judgment, a seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji held that the court lacked the original jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit, which has the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as sole defendant.
The Apex court upheld the preliminary objection raised against the suit by the AGF and held that subject of the case had been dealt with by the Supreme Court in its earlier decision in the case of the Attorney General of Bauchi State against the AGF.
The court agreed with the federal government that the suit amounted to an attempt to re-litigate issues already decided by the Supreme Court in the AG, Bauchi v. AGF case, which relates to the revenues acruable to the govt of the federation, which are…