Nasarawa and Ogun states don dey challenge the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) over the cash withdrawal limit guidelines wey dem introduce. The two states file separate suits against the Attorney General of the Federation, demanding say the Supreme Court should set aside the NFIU’s January 3, 2023 guidelines and Advisory.
The guidelines wey NFIU release say all 36 states and their local governments no fit withdraw cash more than N5m or N10m, depending on the case. Any state or local government wey default on this order go face legal consequences, including jail term of up to three years.
The Attorney General of Nasarawa State, Magaji Labaran, argue say the guidelines dey contravene the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. He say Nasarawa State government and its 13 local government councils get exclusive powers to control, manage, and administer their funds.
Labaran add say if the guidelines be enforced, it go hamper Nasarawa State government from performing its constitutional duties, especially in terms of human and capital development for the citizens. It also go affect the execution of the yearly budget and the running of the local governments.
Ogun State government, through its Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, clarify say their case in court no be about challenging the constitutionality of the EFCC, but rather about the NFIU’s cash withdrawal limits. Akinmade say the limits dey cause significant governance disruptions and no align with their view of the law.
The Supreme Court fix October 22 to hear the suit filed by the two states.
