A Federal High Court in Abuja has authorized a judicial review concerning the management of financial allocations for Local Government Areas in Abia State. This ruling stems from a petition submitted by the Incorporated Trustees of the Civil Society Observatory for Constitutional and Legal Compliance (CSOCLC).
The organization argues that Abia State authorities ignored multiple requests filed under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. These requests sought transparency regarding the revenue, budgets, procurement processes, and expenditure of the state’s 17 local government councils. Represented by lawyer Nnamdi U. Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, the group specifically requested access to FAAC allocations, VAT receipts, and bank statements.
Several officials were named as respondents, including the Accountant General of Abia State, Deaconess Njum Uma-Onyemenam, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi. The legal challenge seeks to compel the prosecution of officials for violating the FOI Act, while also requesting financial damages. Justice Ekerete Akpan granted the applicant leave to proceed and scheduled the next hearing for October 26.
The CSO emphasizes that this litigation aims to ensure public accountability following the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, ruling, which mandated financial autonomy for local governments across Nigeria.
