Nigeria News
Court Nullifies Suit Seeking Accountability Of Security Votes By Governors
The Security Votes recieved by the Nigerian Governors has over the years generated several reactions with many political activist berating the Delta State Governor and his other colleagues in the 35 states of the federation on how the funds are been spent.
Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos has nullified the suit seeking to make the 36 Nigerian governors account for the security votes collected in their respective states.
The multi-million naira Security Votes received by the Nigerian Governors monthly has over the years generated several reactions with many political activists berating the governors on how the funds are been spent.
According to the verdict given on May 4th, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. He said the appropriate court is the respective state’s high courts.
Naija News understands that the suit at the federal high court was filed by Legal Defence and Assistance Project, Legal Resources Consortium, and Chino Obiagwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Joined as defendants were the 36 state governors and their houses of assemblies; the Attorney-General of the Federation; the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission; and the National Assembly.
Naija News recalls that the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has pleaded with the Buhari administration to scrap security votes. According to Idayat Hassan, CDD director, security votes is “one of the primary loophole most Nigerian governors launders public funds.
Security votes are funds disbursed for tackling unforeseen security needs in the country. They are often transacted in cash and used at the discretion of public officials without an independent audit.
