News
S’Court begins sitting as states counter FG on LG funds
The Attorneys- General of the 36 states have filed an objection to the local government funds suit instituted by the Federal Government at the Supreme Court.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Gombe State, Zubairu Umar, in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, confirmed that the 36 states were challenging the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to hear the local governments’ fund case.
The suit, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is slated to commence on Thursday (tomorrow).
A seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Garba Lawal, had on May 30, 2024, given the state attorneys-general, who are the defendants, seven days to file their defence.
The court also ordered all the state AGs to be in court on the adjourned date.
Lawal issued the order while ruling in the application for abridgement of time argued by Fagbemi.
The apex court also directed the AGF to file his reply upon receipt of the governors’ defence within two days.
In the suit, the Federal Government is seeking full autonomy for all local government councils in the country over alleged misconduct in the administration of local government councils.
The government specifically prayed the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.
Fagbemi urged the court to grant an order to withhold the funds meant for the local governments in such states that unlawfully dissolve democratically elected local government officials and run them through illegal transitional implementation committees.
He also prayed the Supreme Court for an order to allow the monthly allocations of LGs to be directly paid to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors.
But the states in their defence argued that the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
In a unanimous objection, the defendants faulted the AGF for instituting the case.
Speaking on the states’ grounds for objection on Tuesday, the Gombe AG, Umar, said, “What we are contending is that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit, as presently instituted.”
The justice commissioner explained that all the states filed similar objections to the suit, adding that the applications would be heard on Thursday.
He stated, “All the 36 states have filed similar objections. The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has yesterday (Monday) filed his response to the states’ preliminary objections. The processes will be heard by the Supreme Court at its next sitting.
Umar questioned the legal grounds for the case, describing autonomy as a non-issue in his state, asserting that the LGAs had financial autonomy.
“On the side of Gombe State, local government autonomy is a non-issue because our local government councils are democratically elected and independently manage their finances that go directly into their accounts. They enjoy unfettered financial autonomy,” he added.
In the same manner, the Kwara State Government said it had asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by the Federal Government seeking full autonomy for the 774 local government councils in the country.
In the process filed at the apex court, the state contended that granting the reliefs sought by the Federal Government, “will further impoverish most Nigerians who are downtrodden in the local government areas.”
The objection was contained in the counter-affidavit to the Originating Summons of the Federal Government filed by the Kwara State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim-Sulyman, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday.
The Kwara State AG asked the apex court to dismiss the originating summons filed by the Federal Government and the reliefs sought, in the interest of justice.
The Kwara AG, who is the 23rd defendant in the case, further said the agitation of the plaintiff regarding joint account “is grossly misconceived and a contradiction to the provisions of section 162 (6) and (8) of the Constitution.’’
The section, according to the AG, provides that funds meant for the local governments “must be allocated to the state in a special statutory account and shall, in turn, be distributed to all the LGs in the state in such terms as may be prescribed by the state House of Assembly.”
He also argued that the misconception of the Federal Government should be nipped in the bud because of an earlier apex court decision in a similar case between Abia State and the AGF.
He referred to the subsisting judgment of the court delivered by a former Supreme Court Justice, Late Justice Nikki Tobi, in the case, which held: “The National Assembly cannot validly make a law permitting the direct allocation of funds to the local government councils.
“Rather, such money must be allocated directly to the state, which shall in turn pay same into the state joint local government account vide section 162 (6) of the Constitution.”
Ibrahim-Sulyman argued that, going by the decision of the court, the Federal Government in the present case “is turning itself into performing the function of the legislature.’’
He contended, “The ideal thing is for the plaintiff to ensure that a bill is sponsored for the amendment of the constitution or a new statute to that effect.
‘’The plaintiff cannot use the back door of the judiciary to import into our law what is not legislated upon by the National Assembly.”
The AG added that contrary to the position of the plaintiff, there was no time Kwara State failed to disburse from the federation account funds meant for the local government.
Kwara faults FG
“The allocation meant for the local governments in the state are released for the use of the local governments, monthly,” he asserted.
The AG also argued that the state was not in the habit of truncating democracy at the local government level as alleged by the Federal Government.
He said the earlier scheduled local government elections in the state could not be held due to protracted litigation over the tenure of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission.
Ibrahim-Sulyman said the state had rolled out the schedule for the elections to be held in various local government councils on September 21, 2024.
Besides, the Kwara AG, said, the Federal Government had no power, whatsoever, to refuse to release the funds meant for the local governments to the states.
Ibrahim-Sulyman said payment of the LGs’ monthly allocations from the federation account to the state is a mandatory statutory provision.
He cited a case between Lagos State Attorney General vs AGF filed when President Bola Tinubu was the Lagos State governor and former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld the allocation meant for the state for creating additional 37 Local Council Development Areas.
According to the AG, ‘’The apex court decision in the case is that the President has no power vested in him to suspend or withhold for any period, whatsoever, the statutory allocations due to Lagos State under the provisions of section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution.’’
He therefore urged the apex court to hold that the Federal Government has no constitutional power to stop, redirect or withhold the statutory allocations meant for the local government councils in Kwara.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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