Headlines
Again: 44 LGs fail to stop Gov Yusuf from spending funds
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has further declined an application seeking to bar Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from disbursing or spending funds and allocations belonging to the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the court had on Friday refused to stop Yusuf from disbursing funds belonging to the local government councils.
The ex-parte motion was filed by the 44 local government councils and the Kano State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) on December 27.
The suit was instituted against the Kano State government, the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the Accountant General of Kano.
The plaintiffs requested an interim injunction while alleging the governor planned tampering with funds meant for the LGAs.
The local government chairmen, who are largely from the All Progressives Congress(APC), accused the governor of disbursing LGA funds without their knowledge.
“An order of this Honourable Court restraining the Defendants/Respondents,whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents, privies, cronies or representatives by whatever name known or called, from controling, managing, further administering, disbursing and spending the funds and allocations belonging to the forty- four (44) Local Government Areas of Kano State in the Kano State Joint Local Account, pending the determination of the Plaintiffs Applicants,” the applicants prayed in one of its reliefs.
In the alternative, the applicants asked the court to stop the Kano State government from tampering with the funds and allocations belonging to the forty four (44) LGAs.
But in his ruling on the ex parte motion, Justice Donatus Okorowo rather ordered the defendants to appear before him on Wednesday and show cause why the interim restraining orders should not be granted.
The judge also ordered that the processes be served on the defendants by substituted means.
At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, the plaintiff’s counsel, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa said pursuant to the order of court, the defendants were directed to show cause why the interim order should not be granted today.
Nasarawa submitted that in line with Order 26 rule 11 of the Federal High Court Rules, the defendants had three days to show cause after service but have not done so.
He humbly urged the court to restrain the Kano state government pending the determination of his case.
For Afeez Matanmi, counsel for the first and second respondent, he told the court he was briefed yesterday by his client and has entered a memorandum of conditional appearance today while serving it on the plaintiff’s counsel this morning.
He explained he also filed to the registrar of the court for the certified true copies of all the processes in the matter.
He said there is no way he can show cause without seeing all the processes including the motion on notice as well as the orders.
“The rules of the court did not specify the number of days to show cause and in this circumstance, the court can extend time for us and adjourn the proceedings,” Mantami said.
Mantami added that upon receiving the processes and showing cause, the Kano State government was capable of refunding the LGAs in dispute if the case goes against them in the end.
Moreso, he contended that even if he had three days to show cause, his clients were still within time to respond due to the public holidays.
Counsels for plaintiff and the third respondent, Okechukwu Edeze confirmed they were served with the memo for conditional appearance this morning.
Edeze aligned with the arguments of the Kano state government counsel and sought for a further adjournment in the interest of fair hearing saying he was briefed less than 24 hours ago.
“I have not seen the processes of this court. Only God knows the truth,” Edaeze said.
Nasarawa countered them, insisting they have been duly served.
He argued that they were expected to give account of the processes having been served by substituted means.
“If they chose not to (show cause), it is to their detriment,” Nasarawa said.
After hearing counsels, Justice Okorowo held that records showed that the defendants were duly served with the processes on December 29, 2023 and the memorandum of conditional appearance by the respondents suggests they planned challenging the suit.
The judge, however, observed that the three-day time frame outlined for the defendants to respond was affected by public holidays.
“The respondents have shown that their time is still running (due to the public holidays), adding “With this in view, it will serve the interest of justice to extend” the orders he had earlier made.
“Respondents are given seven days to show cause why the orders sought in reliefs 5 to 7 should not be made absolute,” the judge said.
The court then adjourned to January 11 for the Kano state government to show cause.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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