The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has directed an investigation into the spending of funds allocated to 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Abia State from 2019 to 2023.
Justice Bello Kawu issued the order for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deposit a Certified True Copy (CTC) of its investigation report or a detailed account of the funds allocated to the LGAs during this period.
The EFCC was also instructed to provide this information to the court’s Registry.
Additionally, the court ordered the seizure of international travel documents belonging to three former officials of the Abia State government.
The individuals affected are Rt. Hon. Prince Christopher Enweremadu, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters; Erondu Uchenna Erondu, former aide to the state’s immediate past governor; and Deaconess Joy Nwanju, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
These individuals are named as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants in the case, filed by activist Chidiebere Ojukwu, who is advocating for transparency in public fund management.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/4961/2024, was brought before the court through an ex-parte application filed by Ojukwu.
The EFCC is listed as the 4th Defendant in the matter.
In addition to the investigation order, the court approved an expedited hearing and requested the defendants to produce specific documents.
These include a list of all companies they hold an interest in, as well as records such as company registration documents, audited financial statements from 2019 to the present, and tax clearance certificates.
The court also requested a list of their bank account details, both domestic and foreign, and information on any properties they own, both in Nigeria and abroad.
The court directed that these orders be served on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants through the Abia State Liaison Office in Abuja.
Justice Kawu scheduled the next hearing for Monday, December 9, and ordered that all related processes be served on the EFCC.
The Plaintiff, Ojukwu, is seeking a determination of whether the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants are personally liable to refund to the Abia State Government any excess funds, amounting to over five hundred billion naira, that were allocated to the 17 LGAs between May 29, 2019, and May 29, 2023, from the Federation Account and Consolidated Revenue Fund.
