Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) don carry Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) go court because say CBN never show or explain how dem dey send money directly give all the 774 local government councils for Nigeria, or how much each council don collect.

 

This wahala start after Supreme Court give one landmark judgement for July 2024, wey talk say all money wey come from Federation Account must go straight to democratically elected local government councils, and say governors no get right to hold or manage the money meant for LGAs.

 

Kolawole Oluwadare, wey be Deputy Director of SERAP, yarn this one inside one statement.

 

The case wey SERAP file for Federal High Court, Lagos, carry suit number FHC/L/MSC/521/2025. For the case, SERAP dey ask make court order CBN to open up on how dem take pay local governments directly, and how much each of the 774 councils don collect since that Supreme Court judgment.

 

Dem also want make court force CBN to tell whether dem don send any money go any local government for Rivers State directly from the Federation Account, and if yes, make dem explain why.

 

According to SERAP, CBN suppose dey transparent with how money dey move go local governments, so Nigerians go fit hold people accountable and check whether the CBN and other agencies dey follow the Supreme Court order.

 

Dem still talk say if the court grant their request, e go help promote transparency, justice and good governance, wey be the real spirit of the Nigerian Constitution.

 

SERAP vex say some governors dey use style deny local governments money, even after Supreme Court don order otherwise. Dem say this kind action na disrespect to the court and a big threat to the rule of law.

 

The suit wey SERAP lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Oluwakemi Oni file, talk say CBN suppose dey help make sure people obey Supreme Court judgment. If governors dey disobey court and CBN no talk, e go affect how people trust the bank to do its work well.

 

Dem also talk say state governors and even FCT don dey frustrate local governments from working as the third level of government wey the constitution recognize. CBN, according to SERAP, get responsibility to protect public funds and make sure money for local governments reach dem directly from the Federation Account.

 

Dem remind say Supreme Court for July 2024 don already talk say e dey illegal make governors or FCT minister hold or spend money meant for local governments.

 

Dem also point say since that judgement, the 774 LGAs don open special accounts with CBN to collect their money directly.

 

SERAP come remind Nigerians wetin former President Muhammadu Buhari talk for 2022: say if N100 million come from Federation Account, the state go give LGA chairman N50 million but force am to sign say na N100 million he collect, and the remaining money go disappear.

 

Dem talk say for March 2025, FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) share N1.578 trillion among the three levels of government, but how the money reach local governments still get question mark.

 

Now, SERAP dey beg the court make e force CBN to clear the air and make sure say Nigerians sabi how public money dey waka.