Court rejects Nigerian govs attempt to stop implementation of NFIU Guidelines on LG funds

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request by the Governors of the 36 states for an order stopping the implementation of guidelines issued by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) restricting their access to local government funds.

The NFIU had directed, effective from June 1, 2019, that banks should not allow transactions in States/Local Government Joint Accounts.

Such accounts were only to be used to distribute allocations to accounts of local governments directly, stopping Governors from tampering with funds meant for Local Government Areas.

However, the 36 governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), filed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/563/19, challenging the legality of the guidelines.

The case could not be heard on Tuesday owing to the absence of the NGF’s lead lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who was before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

READ ALSO: Breaking: Victory at last for Okorocha as INEC issues him Certificate of Return

When the case was called, the lawyer who appeared for the plaintiff, sought a stand down till 11. 30am for Fagbemi to arrive and conduct the plaintiff’s case, a request Justice John Tsoho granted.

As at 11:48 am when the case was called gain and Fagbemi was still not in court, lawyer to NFIU, Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN) objected to a request for further stand down to await Fagbemi’s arrival.

“I had shown good faith by waiting for the plaintiffs counsel till 11:30am and there is no guarantee he will be through at the Court of Appeal if the matter is stood down for another 30 minutes”.

He also informed the court that they are already challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter which has been served on all the parties.

Plaintiff’s lawyer did not object to an adjournment, but prayed to restrain the NFIU from proceeding with the enforcement of the Guidelines pending the determination of the case, a request Justice Tsoho rejected.

Justice Tsoho, while declining the plaintiff’s request, said since it is a constitutional matter, he will not “bother with interlocutory injunctions.”

The judge then adjourned till October 23, 2019 for the hearing of all pending applications.

NFIU had, on May 6, 2019 issued the “Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria.”

The guidelines stopped governors from tampering with funds meant for Local Government Areas.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now