The All-Progressives Congress APC has lost its bid to stop the statutory federal allocation due to the forty-four local government area of Kano state as a Federal High Court in the state has dismissed the suit filed by the APC against the New Nigerian People’s Party led government in the state.
The application moved in November 2024 by APC Chairman Abdullahi Abba, with Aminu Aliyu Tiga as a respondent, challenged the constitutionality of the elected NNPP chairman at the council levels.
In his judgment on Monday, Justice Simon Amobeda said the suit stands dismissed and would remain indefinite with no possible resuscitation in future.
Justice Amobeda acknowledged the notice raised by the respondents to discontinue the matter, the judge however insisted that such processes ought to be filed not later than 14 days after service, a position he substituted with Order 50 Rules 3, 4 and 5 of the court.
The respondents had joined other parties, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Account Allocation Committee, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, the Auditor-General of the Federation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The APC sought a declaration from the court to invalidate the 44 local government chairmen for not being democratically elected and constituted, pursuant to section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
They also demanded that the court restrain the Federal Government, the CBN, and the accountant-General from disbursing statutory funds to Kano’s 44 local government councils.
Counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Tajudeen Abdullahi, urged the court to dismiss the suit, with a cost of two point five million naira, like counsels to Kano state government, KANSIEC, the forty-four local government areas and their counselors, did same demanding for cost
Although their prayers for cost were not granted by Justice Amobeda, he however dismissed the case in its entirety
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
