The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has given the Kano State Government seven-day ultimatum to show cause why the ex-parte orders sought by the 44 local government areas of the state should not be granted.
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, had in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1733/2023 prayed the court to order the Kano State government, the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and the state’s Accountant-General from disbursing and spending the funds and allocations belonging to the LGAs in the Kano State Joint Local Account, pending the determination of the plaintiffs’ substantive suit.
At the proceedings on December 28, 2023, Justice Donatus Okorowo refused to grant the order and directed the defendants to appear before him on January 3 to show cause why the restraining orders should not be granted.
Upon the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Ibrahim Nasarawa, said the defendants failed to file their processes to show cause within the three days prescribed by the rule of the court after being served the court order.
He, however, urged the court to grant the orders sought in their ex-parte motion, citing Order 26, Rule 11 of the FHC.
But the counsel for the Kano State Government, Hafeez Matanmi, pleaded for more time, adding that he was briefed by his client on Tuesday.
The counsel for the state Attorney General and the Commissioner for Justice and Accountant General of Kano State, Okechukwu Edeze, also prayed for further adjournment in the interest of a fair hearing.
After listening to the counsel’s arguments, the judge gave a seven-day ultimatum to the defendants to show cause why the plaintiffs’ prayers should not be granted.
He, however, adjourned the matter till January 11, 2024 for further hearing.
Recall that the suit by the LGA chairmen was in a bid to stop the state government’s move to construct two flyovers within the metropolis using funds from the joint account.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer