Court Adjourns Hearing On Halting LG Statutory Allocation To April 14

A Federal High Court in Kano State has adjourned the hearing of all pending applications in a case seeking to halt the statutory allocation to the 44 local government councils of Kano State until April 14.

Justice Simon Amobeda granted the adjournment on Tuesday after counsel for the Kano State government, Adeboyega Awomolo (SAN), requested more time.

Abdul Adamu Fagge (SAN), representing the plaintiffs, did not oppose the request and informed the court that he and a team of senior advocates had taken over the case from Sunday Olowomoran.

Meanwhile, John Bayeshea (SAN), counsel for the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), stated that he had not been served any adjournment application.

Counsel for the Attorney General of Kano, represented by Umar Fari (Esq.) aligned with the 11th defendant’s submission.

Justice Amobeda granted the adjournment in the interest of justice and directed all parties to file and serve necessary documents before the next hearing.

He said the case would proceed as scheduled regardless of further requests.

The plaintiffs-Abdullahi Abbas, Aminu Aliyu Tiga, and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-seek to prevent the federal government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to the local government councils.

They argue that the local government elections held on October 26, 2024, were invalid because KANSIEC was not properly constituted at the time.

They are also seeking a declaration that the 44 local government chairmen and councillors were not democratically elected in line with constitutional provisions and the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has sought to join the suit, asserting that the case’s outcome will impact its members.