A Federal High Court, situated in Ikoyi, Lagos, issued an order on Wednesday, February 7, directing the federal government to regulate the prices of goods and petroleum products within seven days. Justice Ambose Lewis-Allagoa granted this order in response to an originating motion filed and argued by the applicant and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa emphasized that he had considered the applicant, Femi Falana, in a suit numbered SAN,FHC/L/CS/869/2023. Notably, despite the service of the originating motion on the respondents, namely the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Price Control Board, there was no opposition to it in the form of a counter affidavit. As per the law, this implies that all the facts deposed in the affidavit attached to the originating motion are deemed admitted.
“Consequently, all prayers that are sought for in the motion papers are hereby granted as prayed.”
The judge ordered the Nigerian government to fix the price of Milk, Flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and it’s spare parts, matches, motorcycles and its spare parts, motor vehicles and it’s spare parts as well as Petroleum products, which include: diesel, petrol motor spirit (PMS) and kerosene.
Falana (SAN) had approached the court for the followings: “whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act., the first defendant 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 7 days after the delivery of the Judgment of this Honourable Court.”
