A Federal High Court in Kano has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, and another plaintiff, which sought to prevent statutory allocations to Kano State’s 44 local government councils on the grounds that their chairmen and 484 councillors lack democratic mandates.
When the case came up, Justice Simon Amobeda ruled that although a lawsuit can be voluntarily withdrawn with or without court permission, a dismissal was deemed appropriate to prevent refiling in the future.
The judge declined to award legal costs to any party, despite the Kano State Government’s request for ₦2 billion as compensation for Abbas’s withdrawal.
Earlier, in October 2024, Justice Amobeda had determined that the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) was improperly constituted to conduct the October 26 local government elections which the NNPP reportedly won.
However, in June, the Court of Appeal ruled that the case should have been brought before the State High Court, not the Federal High Court.
Abbas and co-plaintiff Aminu Tiga had asked the court to restrain several federal bodies including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and the Federal Ministry of Finance from disbursing funds to the LGAs due to alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
They contended that the KANSIEC leadership was biased, stating that “KANSIEC Chairman Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi and some commissioners were NNPP members, rendering them unqualified for their positions.”
Following the Appeal Court’s decision, Abbas sought to withdraw the Federal High Court case.
The Kano State Government insisted on dismissal with heavy costs, describing the suit as frivolous.
Its counsel, Bashir Yusuf Tudun Wazirci, emphasized the need for closure.
Similarly, the state’s Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, requested ₦5 million in costs, while KANSIEC’s lawyer, Ibrahim Wangida, claimed psychological trauma and asked for ₦2 million.
The CBN’s representative, B.D. Utai, clarified that the bank was not involved in the earlier judgment and consented to the withdrawal, seeking ₦1 million in costs.
Justice Amobeda’s final ruling effectively resolves the prolonged legal battle over monthly federal allocations to Kano’s 44 local government councils.
