A Kano State High Court has ruled in favor of the 44 local government areas in the state, preventing the federal government from interfering with their financial allocations. This significant decision was handed down on Monday by Justice Musa Ibrahim Karaye, following a legal action taken by local government representatives to secure their financial independence.
The dispute began after the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), filed a suit seeking a court order to stop the release of funds to the local governments, citing irregularities in the October 2024 local government elections held by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission.
Hon. Abdullahi Abbas, Hon. Aminu Aliyu Tiga, and the APC were the main figures behind the case, which named several federal and state institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and the 44 local government councils in Kano, as defendants.
The court’s ruling protected the local governments’ right to access their constitutionally allocated funds, stopping any interference from the federal government or its agencies. Barrister Bashir Wuzirchi, counsel for the local governments, celebrated the verdict as a win for the development of Kano State.
“This case was about safeguarding Kano from forces trying to block progress by withholding local government funds,” said Wuzirchi after the ruling. “With today’s decision, the court upheld our position and ordered the federal government to refrain from meddling with these funds.”
In response, Ahmad Aruwan, the APC spokesperson in Kano, stated that the party would appeal the court’s decision, stressing that they were committed to ensuring public funds are not misused by what they deemed illegitimate leadership.
