BY BONNY AMADI
A public interest group, under the auspices Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urging the immediate suspension of local government allocations to Rivers State over alleged constitutional violations by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd). Nigerian fashion.
The petition, which was also copied to the Account ant General of the Federation, cites a breach of the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of local governments.
In the letter signed by HEDA Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the organisation condemned the actions of the Sole Administrator, who assumed office after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025.
HEDA alleged that on April 9, the Sole Administrator illegally dismissed all elected local government chairmen and installed ap- pointed officials in their place—a move the group described as a “flagrant breach” of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the existence of democratically elected local councils.
The group further cited the recent Supreme Court ruling in AG Federation v. AG Abia State & Ors (2024) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1966) 1, which reinforced the constitutional requirement that democratically elected officials must administer local governments.
The court had unequivocally declared that any governance of local government areas by appointed caretakers or administrators is unconstitutional, illegal, and of no effect.
Suraju emphasised that local governments’ administration and financial management fall strictly within elected councils’ purview.
He asserted that continued disbursement of local government allocations by the CBN to unelected officials in Rivers State is a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling and the Nigerian Constitution, Nigerian fashion.
“The law is settled; local governments must be run by elected officials. Any disbursement of funds to unconstitutional administrators not only contravenes Section 7 of the Constitution but also undermines the rule of law,” Suraju stated in the letter.
HEDA demanded that the CBN, as custodian of public funds, suspend all local government allocations to Rivers State until democratically elected councils are restored. Copies of the petition were also sent to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsedeen Ogunjimi.
“We expect prompt action from your office in compliance with the Constitution and the apex court’s decision. Anything short of this is a blatant disregard for democratic governance and the rule of law,” the petition concluded.
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