The Supreme Court has struck out the bid by the federal government of Nigeria to stop the Lagos state government from asserting control over landed properties it sold out to individuals and corporate bodies within the Lagos territory.
The apex court held that since the federal government had already sold out the properties and divested its interest in them, it can no longer have any interest that can be threatened by actions of the Lagos state government.
Delivering ruling in an application brought before it by the Attorney General of the Federation seeking to stop Lagos state government from having any control on the sold properties, the Supreme Court held that the federal government haven sold off the properties in dispute can no longer invoke the jurisdiction of this court since it has no standing to do so.
In the lead ruling delivered by Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammed, the seven-member panel of justices of the apex court held that the objection of Lagos state against the federal government suit was accurate and correct on the ground that the federal government no longer has any interest to protect on the properties.
Justice Muhammed agreed with Lagos that the federal government, having transferred its title in the land to others, it is untenable for the same federal government to try to assert that its interest is being adversely threatened by the action of the Lagos state government.
The federal government had, between 1967 till date sold off its landed properties within Lagos state to various individuals and corporate bodies
Dispute however arose when Lagos state government directed the buyers of the said properties to regularise the ownership of the properties with the state’s certificate of occupancy (C of O) on the ground that the properties are situated in Lagos. (Channelstv)