* Urge modification of legislation requiring AG’s consent to implement financial judgment in opposition to authorities
Alex Enumah
As actions proceed to gear up in the direction of the conduct of the 2027 common election, authorized practitioners within the nation have known as on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make sure the well timed and clear show of the voters’ register, in order to make sure the credibility of the polls.
The legal professionals, who famous that electoral credibility begins earlier than the polling day, confused that correct data, lawful procedures and significant public scrutiny are important to public confidence.
This is simply as they’ve known as on the National Assembly to abolish the legislation requiring the consent of the Attorney-General to implement financial judgment in opposition to authorities.
The legal professionals made the decision on Thursday in Abuja, at an occasion marking the Law Corridor Founders’ Day, in addition to the introduction of a Professor of Public and International Law, Prof. Olarenwaju A. Aladeitan, as a Partner of the Law Corridor.
Speaking on the event, the Managing Partner of Law Corridor, Henry Kelechi Eniotu, defined that beneath the Electoral Act 2026, whereas Section 19 addresses the show or publication of the voters’ register, Section 77 addresses political-party membership registers and their submission to INEC earlier than primaries, congresses and conventions.
“INEC should clearly talk the relevant timelines, present accessible alternatives for voters to examine their data and guarantee efficient procedures for claims, objections and corrections. It also needs to clarify how compliance with occasion membership register necessities might be verified and enforced, topic to lawful safeguards for private info.
“Publicly announced voter statistics must be clear and verifiable. The Commission should distinguish between applications received, completed registrations and the final number of eligible registered voters. Where figures change or credible discrepancies arise, it should provide timely explanations,” Eniotu stated.
The lawyer additional acknowledged that political events should equally keep correct data and adjust to their statutory obligations, including that the identical requirements should apply persistently to each occasion and candidate.
He confused that public confidence grows when electoral procedures and data can stand up to scrutiny.
Speaking on enforcement of financial judgment in opposition to the federal government, the legal professionals who argued {that a} judgment should present an efficient treatment, submitted that residents who efficiently set up their claims in opposition to public establishments ought to have the ability to receive the advantages of these judgments with out avoidable obstruction.
They noticed that whereas Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act requires the consent of the suitable Attorney-General earlier than a garnishee order nisi could also be made the place the cash sought to be connected is held by a public officer in an official capability, the stated requirement is topic to judicial interpretation.
According to them, “The continued existence of the consent requirement creates opportunities for delay in cases to which it applies.”
They alleged that profitable litigants could spend years pursuing cost whereas their companies endure and inflation erodes the worth of their judgments.
“Government has entry to appeals and functions for a keep of execution. An govt officer shouldn’t possess an extra, indefinite energy to impede enforcement in opposition to the federal government that officer represents.
“We due to this fact name on the National Assembly to abolish the Attorney-General’s consent requirement and set up clear enforcement procedures supported by particular timelines, accountable budgeting and judicial oversight.
“Government must respect the judicial authority it expects citizens to obey”, they stated. Eniotu assured that the Law Corridor will proceed to contribute its quota in the direction of improvement of the nation, by way of authorized evaluation, public-interest advocacy and constructive engagement with establishments liable for reform.
“As we mark our Founders’ Week and welcome Professor Aladeitan into the partnership, we renew our dedication to skilled excellence and significant service to society.
“We thank our clients for their trust, our colleagues for their dedication and the media for their contribution to public accountability,” Eniotu stated.
