The Aminu Maifata-led Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has denied issuing a legal threat to the Forum of Commissioners for Finance of Nigeria regarding July allocations from the Federation Account (FAAC) to the 774 local government councils.
In an August 5 letter addressed to Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), ALGON, through its president Aminu Maifata, denied sending a request to the commissioners via Ozekhome’s representative.
Maifata emphasized that Ozekhome does not represent the Association and lacks the legal authority to issue a letter on their behalf.
ALGON also demanded that the letter be retracted from the public and that Ozekhome issue an apology to the association.
“Your letter dated July 30, 2024, on the above-referenced subject, addressed to the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance, refers,” the letter read, part.
“The attention of our esteemed Association was recently drawn to this letter, which was signed in your name. After much consideration, we are very concerned and worried by your claim of being engaged by us on this subject.
“We find your claim of engagement by us to be unfounded and untrue. For the avoidance of doubt, we emphatically deny such a claim and state that there has been no such engagement between our Association and you or your Chambers.
“Your misleading representation in the letter is highly regretted. Sir, you are aware of the ethical breach and the legal consequences of holding yourself out as a representative in a matter for which you have no brief.
“Nevertheless, we demand that you retract the said letter and issue a public apology to ALGON within 48 hours of receiving this letter.”
In response, Prof. Ozekhome maintained that he was briefed by the ALGON Board of Trustees, noting that the issue of ALGON’s presidency is still a subject of litigation before the court, meaning that the Board of Trustees does not necessarily adhere to Maifata’s directives.
“That matter (over ALGON’s presidency) is in court. The Board of Trustees briefed me. They came to brief me, and I have a letter to that effect. The right authority briefed me fully,” Ozekhome stated.
The letter of authorization given to Prof. Ozekhome was signed by Mohammed Abubakar, Secretary General for the Board of Trustees, and was on the letterhead of the “ALGON Interim Management Committee.”
It partly reads: “We, the Board of Trustees of ALGON, hereby authorize you to represent ALGON on the disobedience of the Supreme Court order mandating the payment of all funds due to the Local Governments and the independence of all Local Governments of Nigeria.”
The Shaban Oyinoyi Shuiabu-led ALGON Board of Trustees, which is challenging the ALGON national leadership, declined to comment until he had met with Mohammed, who Ozekhome said wrote the letter.
“I want to get to the root of the matter,” he said, when asked to comment on the matter.
Daily Query reports that the controversy surrounding the letter might be linked to the leadership tussle within the association at the national level.
ALGON has recently been embroiled in a controversy mainly revolving around a court order declaring the presidency of Hon. Alabi Kolade David null and void.
The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of ALGON, led by Hon. Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, has been vocal about this decision, asserting that Alabi’s presidency is not recognized and that he has no legitimate stake in the association.
