“Governors’ Forum lost its case as the Supreme Court ruled that only the Federal High Court could hear the matter.”
BUSINESS DAY NG
The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by 36 state governments and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) challenging the federal government’s control of ₦1.8 trillion in recovered looted funds.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Mohammed Idris, the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, which it said should have been filed at the Federal High Court.
The states alleged that between 2015 and 2021, the FG recovered ₦1.84 trillion in assets but failed to remit them into the Federation Account as required by the Constitution.
Instead, the funds were allegedly diverted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund and other accounts.
The states cited constitutional provisions and demanded that all monetary and non-monetary recoveries be paid into the Federation Account for equitable distribution.
They also sought an order mandating the FG to transfer the funds and assets, including a detailed report of unrecovered items.
The court, however, declined all reliefs sought.