The Federal High Court in Abuja has further declined a request to immediately bar Governor Abba Yusuf from disbursing funds belonging to the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State. This comes after a previous motion on Friday failed to secure the same restraint.
The lawsuit, filed on December 27 by all 44 LGAs and the Kano chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), alleges that Governor Yusuf has been disbursing funds meant for the LGAs without their knowledge or consent. They requested an interim injunction to prevent further spending from the joint local account until the court decides on the matter.
The LG chairmen, mostly members of the opposing All Progressives Congress (APC), accuse the governor, from the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), of acting unilaterally. They claim he has been using LGA funds without proper consultation or transparency.
“We request an order restraining the governor and his representatives from controlling, managing, or spending the funds belonging to the 44 LGAs,” the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, argued in court.
However, the governor’s lawyer, Afeez Matanmi, countered that the defendants need more time to review the case and prepare a response. He requested an adjournment to allow for a fair hearing, arguing that the public holidays have affected their ability to respond within the initial timeframe.
Judge Donatus Okorowo acknowledged the public holidays and, instead of granting the immediate injunction, extended the deadline for the Kano State government to respond to seven days. He directed them to show cause why the restraining order should not be made permanent on January 11th, 2024.
“Respondents are given seven days to show cause why the orders sought in reliefs 5 to 7 should not be made absolute,” the judge said.
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