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Tag: State Government

  • Appeal Court Grant EFCC Right To Freeze State Govt’s Accounts

    Appeal Court Grant EFCC Right To Freeze State Govt’s Accounts

    The Federal Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, has overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, Makurdi holding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from freezing the account of Benue State Government for the purpose of investigations, without a court order.

    In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice M.S. Hassan on Thursday, September 22, 2022, the appellate court held that, the EFCC has powers to place any account, (state governments’ accounts inclusive) on PND for 72hours, for the purpose of investigations, without a court order. The court also set aside the N50million damages awarded against the EFCC by the lower court.

    Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Makurdi, had on Tuesday, February 2, 2019 delivered a judgment, holding the EFCC from placing a PND on the account of Benue State government. Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Commission approached the Court of Appeal.

    EFCC counsel, Steve Odiase, canvassed strong arguments against the earlier judgment and the appellate court held that the EFCC acted within its powers to freeze the account of Benue State government.

    The court also held that banks are legally bound to obey orders from the EFCC on PND.

  • LAND DISPUTE: Court Scheduled Oct 11th For Hearing Host Communities Vs BUA, State Government

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto 

    The Sokoto State High Court has scheduled Oct. 11, for hearing land dispute case filed by communities surrounding BUA Cement Company against the company and the Sokoto State Government as well. 

    The trial Judge, Justice Kabiru Muhammad, made the adjournment to enable the Respondents Counsels to prepare in the suit.

    At the sitting, Counsel to the state government happened to be absent, and request was made by Mr Abdulrahman Wasahu, the company’s Counsel, for more time to prepare.

    In the statement of claim filed in the court, the Plaintiff Counsel, Mr Kasimu Sauwa, prayed the court to interprete the alleged attempt by the company to takeover land within the communities in line with the Land Use Act.

    Sauwa said the Act specified that government can takeover land belonging to anybody when there is overriding public interest.

    However,  in this case, BUA is a private profit making company with share shareholders.

    “As such we want the court to interprete whether BUA as a profit making company has the right to forcefully acquire land for commercial purposes,” he said.

    The Counsel further prayed the court to declare the intends of the company to take possession by starting demarcations on their land as null and void. 

    The host communities that filed the suit are, Runjin Biyo, Asare, Gidan Dan kaiwa, Kaura Kimba, Gidan Shibkau and Maciya in Wamakko local government area of the state.

  • Paris Club Refund: Court Dismisses $418m debt Suit against FG

    Paris Club Refund: Court Dismisses $418m debt Suit against FG

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the Attorneys-General of the 36 states against the Federal Government.

    In the suit, the states are challenging the planned deduction of $418 million from the Federation Account to settle debts owed consultants engaged by the states and local governments in relation to the Paris Club refunds.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit in a judgement delivered on Friday, saying the attorneys-general have not shown enough evidence to accord them the right to institute the action.

    He held that there was no express evidence to show that the governors of the 36 states consented to the filing of the suit.

    According to the judge, the office of the Attorney-General of a state was created under Section 195 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and the AG of a state is appointed by a governor, which makes the AG an appointee who is under the control of a governor.

    He held that the contention of the plaintiffs that it was not a party to the judgment debt did not hold water because the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Association of Local Governments were parties in the suit.

    The court further held that the plaintiffs had acknowledged the existence of judgment debt, insisting that the filing of the suit was a ploy to challenge the judgement debt.

    Justice Ekwo noted that the action of the plaintiff amounted to an abuse of court process and subsequently dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.

    Details later…

  • State Government To Constructs Perimeter Wall In School

    State Government To Constructs Perimeter Wall In School

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Matawallen Sokoto has direct the immediate construction of perimeter wall at the northern part of Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki Model Primary School in Sokoto South Local Government.

    Executive Chairman State Universal Basic Education Board Alhaji Altine Shehu Kajiji who announced the development said the governor’s prompt intervention followed phone call with the number one citizen in the state to intimate him on the unhealthy nature of some parts of the school after his unscheduled visit there.

    Kajiji further noted that a contractor has since been directed to immediately start the fencing work in addition to construction of two toilets for the female teachers of the JSS section of the school.

    The SUBEB BOSS explained that if completed the perimeter wall will serve as security to the school by preventing trespassers access into it’s premises and defecate.