The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has declined the invitation extended to him by the Supreme Court of Nigeria (CJN) to render legal advice as a friend of the Court (amicus Curiae) in a pending appeal to determine the constitutional tenure of five state governors.
Adoke was invited along with Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) and Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) as amicus curiae to help the court decide the appeal against the tenure of the governors.
The governors are: Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Timiprieye Sylva (Bayelsa) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).
A Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled that the tenures of the concerned governors would expire at various times in 2012 having won reelections.
But General Mohamed Buba Marwa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are praying the court to rule the tenures of the governors ought to have expired on May 29 this year.
An impeccable source close to the apex Court yesterday told Daily Trust that the AGF declined the invitation because his office was being joined in the appeal as a necessary party.
"There is a written communication to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mustapha from the AGF, Alhaji Mohammed Adoke SAN, to the effect that as a party in the pending appeal filed in the Supreme Court against the unanimous Judgment of the justices at the Court of appeal, the AGF would have to decline the invitation," the source said.
It could not be confirmed who the CJN would pick as a replacement for Adoke.
The decision of the AGF to decline the apex court's investigation, Daily Trust heard, might not be unconnected to the objection against the invitation being extended by CJN to AGF Adoke by Chief Ladi Williams (SAN), Counsel for Governor Timipre Silvia. Williams said the AGF was a party in the suit.
DailyTrust