A case challenging Akolade Alabi’s eligibility as the National President of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria has been dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suit, marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/1609/2023, was brought by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Abubakar Abdullahi, and Shaban Shuabu. They argued that Alabi, the former ALGON president, who is also the chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area, was ineligible to hold the position because Bariga LCDA is not among the country’s recognized 774 Local Government Areas.
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo stated that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of ALGON’s internal processes and constitution.
Justice Ekwo emphasized that associations are governed by their constitutions and decisions made through legitimate meetings. He stressed that members who disagree with such decisions have the choice to leave the association.
The judge deemed the lawsuit an abuse of court processes, citing previous similar cases filed in other jurisdictions.
As a result, a fine of N100,000 was imposed on the plaintiffs, with a 30-day deadline for payment.
Following the judgment, Alabi expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision and vowed to donate the awarded fine to charity.
The newly appointed ALGON president, Aminu Muazu Maifata, hailed the ruling as long-awaited and significant for the organization.