November 18, 2015 – A Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere on Wednesday fixed January 18, 2016 to hear motion for stay of execution on the judgment declaring null and void the appointment of executive secretaries to manage affairs of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The court will also entertain arguments on a similar application filed by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) seeking stay of execution of the judgment pending appeal.
The court, had in a judgment delivered on October 23, 2015, granted an order of mandamus directing LASIEC to publish electoral guidelines and time table within 30 days for election to be conducted in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission Law.
The court had also declared as unconstitutional the appointment of executive secretaries for Local Government Councils in the State.
Lagos State had immediately filed an appeal against the judgment and applied for a stay of the execution of the Court’s Judgment pending the determination of the Appeal.
At the resumed hearing of the matter before Justice A. M. Lawal on Wednesday, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem appeared for the state, while Mr A. A Osara, from the Law Firm of Femi Okunnu, SAN & Co, appeared for LASIEC.
Osara, in his submission, informed the Court that his client had also filed a notice of appeal and an application for an injunction pending appeal/stay of execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal against the judgment.
On his part, counsel who represented the applicant, National Conscience Party (NCP), Mr Kingsley Izimah requested for time to respond to the applications.
Justice Lawal observed that the counsel on record for NCP was different from the one presently representing it and queried how that came about.
In response, Izima promised to regularise his position before the next adjourned date. The Court thereafter adjourned to January 18, 2016 for hearing of the applications.
