JUST IN: Kano Court Blocks CBN, Others from Freezing LG Funds

The Kano State High Court has issued an order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) from withholding monthly allocations meant for Kano State’s 44 local government areas.

The order was granted following a motion ex-parte filed on November 1 by Ibrahim Muhammed, chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), alongside five other concerned Kano residents, including Ibrahim Shehu, Ibrahim Abubakar, Usman Isa, Sarki Kurawa, and Malam Usman Imam.

The applicants, represented by their counsel, Bashir Yusuf-Muhammad and Usman Bala-Salisu, expressed concerns over possible delays or withholding of funds crucial for local governance in Kano.

The case names several respondents, including the AGF as the 45th defendant, the CBN as the 46th defendant, and RMAFC as the 47th defendant. Also listed are UBA, Access Bank, and six other commercial banks.

Justice Ibrahim Musa-Muhammad issued an injunction preventing the 45th to 54th respondents, including the CBN and commercial banks, from interfering with or delaying the disbursement of the monthly allocations to the 44 local government areas pending a decision on the motion on notice.

“By withholding, refusing to disburse, delaying disbursement, deferring, or in any way tampering with the allocation from the federation account to the 44 LGAs, the respondents violate the applicants’ rights,” the judge stated.

The judge further authorized the applicants to serve court processes on the AGF, CBN, and RMAFC through Red Star Express Plc courier service to ensure effective service of documents.

The court adjourned the case to November 21 for a hearing on the motion on notice.

(NAN)