A Kano State High Court has ruled that the federal government must not interfere with the funds allocated to the 44 local government areas in the state. The decision, delivered on Monday by Justice Musa Ibrahim Karaye, followed a review of evidence presented by representatives of the local governments.
The case stemmed from a petition by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which had sought a court order to halt the disbursement of funds, citing alleged irregularities in the October 2024 local government elections conducted by the state electoral commission.
Previous Interim Order
Before the final ruling, the court had issued an interim order directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and all commercial banks not to tamper with the funds until the case was resolved.
Legal Victory for Local Governments
Speaking after the judgment, Barrister Bashir Yusuf Tudun Wuzirchi, legal counsel for the 44 local governments, stated:
“We initiated this case to safeguard Kano State from forces trying to hinder development by targeting local government resources. By God’s grace, the court has ruled in our favor, granting all our requests and reaffirming that these funds, which constitutionally belong to the local governments, must not be tampered with by the federal government.”
Political Implications
Efforts to obtain a response from the opposition party’s legal team were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear whether they plan to appeal the ruling.
The verdict comes amid ongoing political rivalry between the ruling NNPP and the opposition APC in Kano State, as both parties intensify their efforts to gain public support ahead of the 2027 general elections.