February 8, 2024
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday ordered the Federal Government to fix the prices of goods and petroleum products within seven days.
Justice Ambose Lewis-Allagoa granted the order following an originating motion filed and argued by the applicant and rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).
The judge said: “I have had the applicant, Femi Falana, in a suit and I have also discovered that despite the service of the originating motion on the respondents, namely Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Price Control Board, no opposition to it by way of counter-affidavit, which is law, that all the facts deposed to in the affidavit attached to the originating motion are all deemed admitted.
“Consequently, all prayers that are sought for in the motion papers are hereby granted as prayed.”
Justice Lewis-Allagoa ordered the Federal Government to fix the prices of milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and their spare parts, matches, motorcycles and their spare parts, motor vehicles and their spare parts as well as petroleum products, including diesel, petrol motor spirit (PMS), and kerosene.
Falana had approached the court, demanding answers to the followings: “Whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, the first defendant (Federal Government) is carrying out its duty to impose a price on any goods that are of the kind specified in the First Schedule to the Price Control Act.
“A declaration that by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act Cap, the defendants are under a legal obligation to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts, flour, matches, milk, motorcycles and spare parts, motor vehicles and spare parts, salt, sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene.
“A declaration that the failure or refusal of the Defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts, flour, matches, milk, motorcycles and spare parts, motor vehicles and spare parts, salt, sugar and petroleum products, including diesel, petrol motor spirit, and kerosene is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Cap, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“An order directing the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts, flour, matches, milk, motorcycles and spare parts, motor vehicles and spare parts, salt, sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene not later than seven days after the delivery of the Judgment of this honourable court.”
Also, the Federal Ministry of Justice last night reacted to the court ruling.
A statement in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Minister, Mr. Kamorudeen Ogundele, reads: “As soon as we have a copy of the judgment, we will study it.
“On the long run, we will take a decision that is in the best interest of the country.
“Rest assured that this government will always have the interest of the masses at heart.”
