Court Stops CBN, RMAFC, Others From Withholding Kano Local Gov’t Funds

A High Court of Kano State presided over by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Musa Muhammad has issued an order to prevent federal authorities from interfering with the monthly statutory allocations meant for the 44 local government councils of the State.

LEADERSHIP reports the court’s ruling followed a Motion Ex-Parte filed on November 1, 2024, by members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and other concerned residents of the State.

In the order dated November 4, Justice Muhammad granted the applicants permission to serve court documents on the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The suit filed by Bashir Yusif Muhammad Esq and Umar Bala Salisu Esq, highlighted concerns over the possible withholding or delay of allocations essential for local governance in the State.

Justice Muhammad, in his ruling, stated, “Leave of this Honourable Court is hereby granted to the Applicants to issue and serve the concurrent originating processes on the 45th, 46th, and 47th Respondents.”

The Respondents include: the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, CBN, and the RMAFC. Given that the agencies are outside the court’s jurisdiction in Kano state, Red Star Express Plc has been appointed as a special bailiff to ensure the effective service of the court documents on the Respondents.

The court issued the interim injunction restraining the federal agencies “either by themselves, their agents, officers, privies, representatives, and assigns” from taking actions that could interfere with the disbursement of the monthly allocations to local government councils in Kano State.

Specifically, the court ordered that no measure should be taken to withhold, delay, or tamper with the funds until the court hears the motion on notice. The judge also emphasised that any attempts to “warehouse, tinker with, exclude from disbursement, or refuse to disburse” the funds are prohibited.

The case has been adjourned to November 21, 2024, when the Motion on Notice will be further heard.