LG Funds: Court rejects Governors Forum’s move to block implementation of NFIU Guidelines

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) in relation to the operation of the States/Local Government
Joint Accounts.

The NFIU’s guidelines, which took effect from June 1, 2019,
direct banks not to allow transactions in States/Local Government
Joint Accounts, but that such accounts should only be used to
distribute allocations to accounts of local governments
directly.

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

The 36 governors are, in a suit they filed before the court
through the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), 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,n Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who was before the
Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

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

When the case was called at 11:48 am 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.

Obi-Okafor told the court that his team ”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 equally 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, in 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

The NFIU had, on May 6, 2019 issued the “Guidelines to Reduce
Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government
Funds throughout Nigeria.” which stopped governors from tampering
with funds meant for Local Government Areas.

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9th NASS: Sen. Oloriegbe Assures Constituents of Fair,
Quality Representation

Following the official inauguration of ninth National Assembly,
the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District,
Distinguished Senator, Sen. (Dr.) Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe has
expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the people of Kwara, most
especially, those of his constituents, for their shows of support
and the trust placed in him as their representative in the National
Assembly.

In his appreciation message duly signed by him, the newly
inaugurated lawmaker expressed his profound gratitude to his people
while reiterating on his promises of fair and quality
representation.

The message, in parts, read thus: “First and foremost, I give
special thanks to Almighty Allah for His continuous guidance and
stamping of His blueprint of success right from the very beginning
of this incredible journey.

“It’s with the most deepest of gratitude, that I give
appreciation to my people for this great honour accorded me as
their representative in our nation’s assembly. This gratitude is
too ponderous to be expressed for the sacred trust and unwavering
confidence reposed in me. It’s an honour which I’m deeply conscious
of, grateful for and which I’m fully prepared to dedicate my life
for, in order to deliver unfailingly.

“I, therefore, pledge and commit myself to deliver on my
promises to the people and to always make their interests take
precedence in all my dealings as an elected representative.

“Mandatory upon me, have I made to apply the standards of
fairness, accountability and quality representation in the
discharge of my representative’s duties and responsibilities to my
people.

“Great are the people’s expectations. Deep are their yearnings
and longings for a better Kwara. Equally, my conscious of these
things and readiness to dutifully commit myself to their
realizations, are of similar if not of greater intensity.

“My people have come a long way. The long walk to freedom has
been tedious. The sacrifices are numerous. Many times, the
intensity of the journey takes it tolls, but the spirit of
togetherness and the oneness of purpose have taken us this far to
put me here. Deeply aware am I of all these which makes me
reiterate again on the assurance that; I, certainly, will not fail
the people. Insha Allah, Kwara will be great than before.”

Signed:
Distinguished Senator,
Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe
Kwara Central Senatorial District