* Urge modification of regulation requiring AG’s consent to implement financial judgment towards 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 referred to 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 attorneys, who famous that electoral credibility begins earlier than the polling day, careworn that correct data, lawful procedures and significant public scrutiny are important to public confidence.
This is simply as they’ve referred to as on the National Assembly to abolish the regulation requiring the consent of the Attorney-General to implement financial judgment towards authorities.
The attorneys 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 below 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 must also clarify how compliance with occasion membership register necessities shall 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 constantly to each occasion and candidate.
He careworn that public confidence grows when electoral procedures and data can face up to scrutiny.
Speaking on enforcement of financial judgment towards the federal government, the attorneys who argued {that a} judgment should present an efficient treatment, submitted that residents who efficiently set up their claims towards public establishments ought to have the ability to acquire 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 hooked up 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 might spend years pursuing fee whereas their companies undergo 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 hinder enforcement towards the federal government that officer represents.
“We subsequently 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 growth of the nation, by authorized evaluation, public-interest advocacy and constructive engagement with establishments answerable 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.
