The High Court of Kano State has granted an order to safeguard the monthly statutory allocations meant for the 44 local government councils within the State. The decision, handed down by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Musa Muhammad on November 4, 2024, comes in response to a Motion Ex-Parte filed by members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and concerned citizens of Kano State.
The court’s order, which follows the suit filed by legal representatives Bashir Yusif Muhammad Esq and Umar Bala Salisu Esq, addresses the apprehension surrounding potential interference with the disbursement of funds crucial for local governance. The applicants have been granted 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).
In his ruling, Justice Muhammad 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.” Given the location of these federal agencies outside the court’s jurisdiction, Red Star Express Plc has been designated as a special bailiff to facilitate the service of court documents.
The interim injunction issued by the court restrains the federal agencies, their agents, officers, privies, representatives, and assigns from taking any action that could hinder the disbursement of monthly allocations to the local government councils in Kano State. The court has explicitly prohibited any measures to withhold, delay, or tamper with the funds until the motion on notice is heard.
The case has been adjourned to November 21, 2024, for further proceedings on the Motion on Notice.