By Adedapo Adesanya

A high court in Kano State has issued a permanent order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from withholding funds allocated to the 44 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Ibrahim Musa-Muhammad, came after an ex parte motion filed on November 1, 2024, by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr Ibrahim Muhammed, and five others.

The motion sought to prevent the respondents from withholding or delaying allocations essential for local governance.

Among the respondents were the accountant-general of the federation (AGF), the CBN, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the 44 Kano LGAs, and several commercial banks, including United Bank for Africa and Access Bank.

Recall that in November 2024, the court issued an interim order preventing the CBN and AGF from withholding funds for the 44 LGAs pending the determination of the suit.

Delivering his final judgment on Monday, Justice Musa-Muhammad ruled in favor of the applicants, affirming that they had established their case.

“The AGF, CBN, and RMAFC are under a duty to disburse monthly allocations to the 44 LGAs as democratically elected local government councils,” the judge declared.

He further emphasized that withholding the allocations would violate the fundamental rights of residents in the 44 local government councils, citing sections of the Nigerian Constitution.

“A declaration that withholding these allocations would amount to a breach of the fundamental rights of the residents, inhabitants in the 44 local government councils, as guaranteed under Sections 33, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” the ruling stated.

Justice Musa-Muhammad also referenced the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, noting that excluding the 44 LGAs from the federation account distribution contradicts its provisions.

“It would be wrong according to Articles 13, 19, 22, and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights for the AGF, CBN, and RMAFC to exclude the 44 LGAs in the distribution of funds accruing from the Federation Account, in line with Section 162(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” he said.

With this ruling, the court has reinforced the constitutional requirement that local government funds must be distributed without interference, ensuring financial autonomy for Kano’s 44 LGAs.

Speaking on the judgment, NULGE chairman, Mr Ibrahim Muhammed hailed it as a victory for grassroots governance.

“This ruling is a significant step towards ensuring that local governments receive their rightful allocations without political or bureaucratic interference,” he said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

A Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday affirmed the selection and installation of Mr Ghandi Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

Recall that Justice K. A. Adedokun of the Oyo State High Court in Ogbomoso had, on October 25, 2023, nullified the selection and installation of Mr Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

The court asserted that the procedure of Mr Olaoye’s nomination was “irregular, null and void”.

It added that the process did not comply with the provisions of the Soun Chieftaincy Declaration of 1958.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, on December 20, 2023, presented the staff and instrument of office to Olaoye as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso.

“In exercise of the power, I hereby confirm Oba Ghandi Olaoye Orumogege 111 as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso land,’’ Mr Makinde said after presenting the staff in the ancient city.

Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by Mr Olaoye today, Justice Yargata Nimpar, who led a three-member panel of justices, resolved the appeal in favour of Mr Olaoye.

Justice Nimpar said that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case.

According to the judge, the respondents failed to comply with the administrative procedure of writing the government about their dissatisfaction with the selection before approaching the court.

Mr Nimpar, therefore, set aside the lower court’s judgment and affirmed the selection and installation of Mr Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomoso.

Speaking with journalists after the judgment, the respondents’ lead counsel, Mr Abiodun Ogunjumi, said his client was dissatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Mr Ogunjumi said he was ready to file notice and grounds of the appeal to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

By Dipo Olowookere

A prominent Niger Delta leader, Mr Edwin Clark, has died at the age of 97.

He was said to have died on Monday, a statement from a representative of the family, Professor C C Clark, on Tuesday morning said.

The deceased was a former Federal Commissioner for Information and a leading voice in the country.

The family, which called for prayers, has said it would update members of the public on the funeral arrangements.

Details later…