The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) has called on Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to ensure absolute impartiality in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who faces terrorism charges brought by the Nigerian government.

In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, AVID, along with two other US-based pro-Biafra groups—Rising Sun and Ambassadors for Self-Determination—insisted that Kanu is a prisoner of conscience and should not be prosecuted, as they believe he has committed no crime.

Kanu is scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Omotosho on Friday, 21 March. The groups recalled his “extraordinary rendition” from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 and his continued detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), despite multiple court rulings in his favour.

The statement, signed by AVID President Dr Sylvester Onyia, Rising Sun President Chief Dede Maxwell, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination President Chief Engr Evans Nwankwo, expressed concern over what they described as the government’s disregard for judicial rulings.

“In July 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council, through a landmark opinion by its Working Group, declared that the appropriate remedy for Mr Kanu would be his immediate release and compensation in accordance with international law,” the statement read.

It also cited a December 2023 ruling by Nigeria’s Supreme Court, which held that the revocation of Kanu’s bail was wrongful and should be reinstated in line with Section 287(1) of the Constitution.

The groups condemned the continued prosecution of Kanu, stating that since he had been acquitted by Nigerian courts, the government had no justification for further legal action against him.

“We demand his immediate and unconditional release. The government must not pile illegality upon illegality while the world is watching,” they asserted.

The statement also urged Justice Omotosho to prioritise Kanu’s safety and remain neutral in the case. It further criticised what it described as political manoeuvring, alleging that the case had been used to create division between Nigeria’s Igbo and Yoruba communities.

“The previous administration, under Muhammadu Buhari, saw the baselessness of these charges but conveniently left them for President Tinubu’s government, possibly to sow discord between the Igbos and the Yorubas,” the groups alleged.

As Kanu’s trial approaches, the calls for his release continue to intensify, highlighting ongoing tensions over his detention and the broader agitation for Biafra.

The total disbursement of N15.26 trillion was distributed among the three tiers of government.

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed a record N15.26 trillion to the federal, state, and local governments in 2024, reflecting a 43 per cent increase from the previous year.

The surge, detailed in the latest Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative FAAC Quarterly Review, underscores the impact of key fiscal reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, which significantly boosted oil revenue remittances.

The report, presented by Ogbonnaya Orji, executive secretary of NEITI, attributed the increased disbursements to these policy changes, which reshaped the country’s revenue landscape.

According to a statement by the Acting Director, Communication and Stakeholders Management, Obiageli Onuorah, on Tuesday, it assessed the fiscal sustainability of government borrowing and the implications for oil-producing states benefiting from the 13 per cent derivation fund.

Breakdown
The total disbursement of N15.26 trillion was distributed among the three tiers of government. The federal government received N4.95 trillion, while state governments collectively received N5.81 trillion. Local government allocations amounted to N3.77 trillion.

State governments recorded the highest percentage increase, with allocations rising 62 per cent from N3.58 trillion in 2023.

Local government allocations increased by 47 per cent, while the federal government’s share rose by 24 per cent, up from N3.99 trillion in the previous year.

The fourth quarter of 2024 saw the highest quarterly disbursement on record, reaching N4.214 trillion, reflecting the impact of sustained revenue growth and fiscal policy reforms.

Key drivers
The record-high FAAC disbursements were attributed to major fiscal reforms implemented by the federal government.

The removal of fuel subsidies in mid-2023 eliminated deductions that previously reduced distributable oil revenue, leading to increased remittances to the federation account.

Exchange rate liberalisation also played a crucial role, as the depreciation of the naira boosted naira-denominated mineral revenues by over 400 per cent.

In addition, higher global crude oil prices and improved domestic production contributed to increased earnings from the petroleum sector.

Despite these gains, the report warned of inflationary pressures, rising debt servicing costs, and fiscal uncertainty for states heavily reliant on oil earnings.

NEITI emphasised the need for proactive measures to stabilise the exchange rate, curb inflation, and strengthen non-oil revenue sources to ensure long-term economic stability.

Debt deductions and fiscal sustainability
Debt servicing deductions from state allocations amounted to N800 billion, representing 12.3 per cent of total state disbursements.

Lagos State recorded the highest debt deductions, with N164.7 billion, accounting for over 20 per cent of total deductions.

Kaduna State followed with N51.2 billion, while Rivers and Bauchi also saw significant deductions of N38.6 billion and N37.2 billion, respectively.

The report raised concerns over the debt-to-revenue ratios of many states, particularly those with high debt burdens but lower revenue allocations.

NEITI urged governments to adopt conservative revenue projections to prevent budget shortfalls and improve fiscal management to ensure debt sustainability.

State-by-State analysis
Lagos State received the highest FAAC allocation in 2024, totalling N531.1 billion, followed by Delta with N450.4 billion and Rivers with N349.9 billion. Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa also ranked among the top recipients, with N329.2 billion and N270.4 billion, respectively.

Nasarawa received the lowest allocation of N108.3 billion, followed by Ebonyi with N110 billion and Ekiti with N111.9 billion. Six states—Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Kano—each received over N200 billion, collectively accounting for 33 per cent of total state allocations.

In contrast, the six lowest-receiving states accounted for only 11.5 per cent.

The report highlighted the widening fiscal disparity between states, noting that Lagos, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom collectively received N1.49 trillion, a sum more than three times the total allocation of the bottom four states—Kwara, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa—at N442.4 billion.

Recommendations
NEITI called for improved fiscal discipline and enhanced transparency in revenue management at all levels of government.

It urged authorities to increase savings in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to mitigate future revenue shocks and to strengthen non-oil revenue generation to reduce dependence on FAAC allocations.

The report also recommended measures to stabilise the exchange rate, curb inflation, and ensure conservative budgeting for crude oil production and pricing.

It further stressed the need for governments to prioritise job creation, poverty reduction, and economic stability while maintaining fiscal transparency in line with Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) commitments.

NEITI reiterated the importance of leveraging its findings to hold all levels of government accountable for the prudent management of public funds, particularly revenues generated from the extractive industries.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has vacated its earlier order stopping the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the Senate.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu overturned the ruling on Wednesday after considering arguments from both parties in the suit.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the court in an ex-parte motion seeking to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuem, from investigating allegations of misconduct against her.

The senator named the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, its President, and the committee chairman as the first to fourth defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

Following her application, Justice Egwuatu had, on March 4, granted an interim injunction halting any disciplinary action against her.

One of the orders declared any decision taken against her while the case was pending as null and void.

Despite this, the Senate went ahead to suspend her for six months on March 6, citing misconduct during the February 20 plenary.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a contempt charge, arguing that her suspension was a blatant disregard of the court’s directive.

However, the Senate, through its counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), challenged the order, describing it as vague and an overreach into legislative affairs.

Ojukwu argued that enforcing the order would interfere with the Senate’s constitutional duties, violating the doctrine of separation of powers.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the Senate’s application, insisting that the defendants had deliberately disobeyed a valid court order.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Egwuatu set aside the contentious order, paving the way for the Senate’s actions to stand.

The case was adjourned until March 25 for the hearing of all pending applications.