-Threatens Court Action
The Orluzurumee Youth Assembly (OYA) has given the 12 outgoing Local Government Area chairmen in Orlu Senatorial Zone a five-day ultimatum to account for funds allocated to their respective councils between September 2024 and September 2026, threatening legal action if they fail to respond.
The youth organisation, in a statement issued on Sunday, September 27, 2026, by its National Publicity Secretary, Ikenna Orioha, said the affected council chairmen had failed to provide substantive responses to earlier requests for financial information made under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
According to the Assembly, the requests sought details of Federation Account allocations received by the councils and how the funds were utilised.
OYA said the requests were formally delivered to the respective councils and acknowledged by staff at the council offices, but alleged that the outgoing chairmen had failed to provide the requested information.
The organisation said it subsequently obtained official allocation information from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation concerning funds accruing to the 12 councils.
It put the combined allocations received by the councils between September 2024 and June 2026 at N118,100,198,857.
The figures listed by the Assembly are: Ideato North, N10,453,370,782; Ideato South, N10,522,137,223; Isu, N10,269,530,620; Njaba, N9,865,836,695; Nwangele, N9,487,848,359; and Nkwerre, N8,513,436,079.
Others are Oguta, N10,263,651,352; Ohaji/Egbema, N11,105,636,336; Orlu, N9,871,421,060; Orsu, N9,502,817,786; Oru East, N8,764,480,478; and Oru West, N9,480,032,087.
OYA said the reported scale of public funds was concerning given what it described as the poor state of infrastructure and public services across several communities in the senatorial zone.
The group listed inadequate access roads, bridges, electricity, potable water, healthcare facilities, schools and markets among the challenges facing residents.
It also expressed concern over what it described as limited visible impact of public expenditure on youth and women empowerment, small businesses and other programmes intended to improve livelihoods and stimulate local economic activity.
The Assembly said the central question for the outgoing chairmen was how the funds received by their respective councils were spent and what projects or services were delivered to residents in return.
“These funds are public resources. They are not personal funds belonging to Local Government Chairmen or any other public officials,” the statement said, stressing the need for transparency in the management of council resources.
OYA consequently gave the 12 outgoing chairmen five days from the date of its statement to provide comprehensive accounts of funds received and expended by their respective councils during the period under review.
It warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response would lead it to pursue what it described as “every lawful and legitimate avenue” available to obtain accountability and transparency.
The Assembly said such measures could include approaching the courts and relevant oversight and accountability institutions.
It also cited Section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, which establishes a right of access to information in the custody or possession of public officials, agencies and institutions, subject to the provisions of the Act.
OYA urged the outgoing chairmen to use the five-day period to provide the requested information and demonstrate accountability to the people of the 12 Local Government Areas.
The organisation pledged to continue its advocacy for transparency, responsible governance and improved public administration and infrastructure across Orlu Senatorial Zone.
“The people deserve to know,” the statement concluded.
