Lagos State Government and Assembly Sued over Interference with Judiciary

Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has dragged the Lagos State Government and the House of Assembly before the Court over their interference with the Judiciary.

In the suit, filed at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Adegboruwa is asking the Court to restrain the Lagos State Government and Lagos State House of Assembly from stripping the High Court of Lagos State of its jurisdiction and powers over the Administration of Probate.

Joined in the suit marked No. LD/491CM/2015 as Respondents are the Attorney General of Lagos State and Chief Registrar, High Court of Lagos State.

The Applicant is seeking an order of Injunction to restrain the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State House of Assembly, whether by themselves, their servants, officers, agents, banks, privies or otherwise howsoever, from removing, excising, privatising, taking away, outsourcing, taking over or in any other manner managing the functions and powers conferred on High Court of Lagos State, in relation to Probate matters.

Adegboruwa also seeks an order of Injunction to restrain the House of Assembly of Lagos State, whether by itself, its servants, officers, agents, committees privies or otherwise howsoever, from making, enacting, considering, deliberating upon, proposing or in any other manner taking any step(s) for the purpose of removing, excising, privatising, taking away, outsourcing, taking over or in any other manner empowering the Executive arm of the Government of Lagos State, its agents and organs, to manage the functions and powers conferred on High Court of Lagos State, in relation to Probate matters.

The suit which was commenced by Originating Summons is also seeking the Court’s determination of certain questions of law.

In the affidavit in support of the suit, Adegboruwa stated that since the creation of Lagos State, the Probate Division has always been part and parcel of the High Court but that very recently, the current Government administration of Lagos State, in collusion with the House of Assembly, have decided to privatise the administration of Probate to private persons, purely to generate revenue.