In a groundbreaking legal development, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has been restrained by the court from tapping into the funds of the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the chairmen of all 44 LGAs, who took the state government to court over plans to construct two flyovers in the metropolis.
The chairmen expressed discontent with the funding arrangement, where 70% of the project’s funding is sourced from the LGAs’ joint account. Backed by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano State chapter, they filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1733/2023) seeking an order to prevent the state government from tampering with their funds.
The court, presided over by Hon. Justice D. U. Okorowo, granted several orders to safeguard the interests of the LG chairmen. These include leave to issue and serve their court processes on the defendants in and outside Kano State, marking court processes to be served on the defendants, and appointing a special bailiff for service.
In a notable interim injunction, the court restrained the defendants from managing, controlling, administering, disbursing, and spending the funds and allocations belonging to the 44 LGAs in the Kano State Joint Local Government Account. This order remains effective pending the determination of the plaintiffs’ Motion on Notice.
The court’s decision marks a significant victory for the LG chairmen, who stand united in their effort to protect local government funds from what they perceive as unwarranted interference. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, however, maintains his stance, defending the funding arrangement during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the flyovers. He asserts that the practice is well-established and assures that all LGAs will benefit from the completed projects.
As the legal battle unfolds, Kano State remains at the center of a consequential dispute over the control and use of local government funds, with the court playing a pivotal role in shaping the outcome.
