OBIARUKU/Nigeria: In a move that could reshape financial accountability at the grassroots, the Delta State High Court sitting in Obiaruku has authorised a councillor to institute mandamus proceedings against the chairman and treasurer of Ukwuani Local Government Area over alleged breaches of statutory financial disclosure laws.
According to the Vanguard Newspaper of Monday, January 26, 2026, the order was granted on January 19, 2026, by Justice S. L. Okeleke following an ex parte application filed by legal practitioner Evans Ufeli on behalf of Councillor Chukwuemeke Victor, who represents Ward 19, Ezhionum Kingdom, in the Ukwuani Legislative Council.
In granting the application, the court held that the councillor had established sufficient interest to approach the court, being a serving member of the legislative arm of the local government, and consequently permitted him to commence substantive proceedings against the council authorities.
With the leave secured, the applicant has filed a Motion on Notice seeking reliefs against the Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Barrister Chiamaka Solomon Possible Ajede; the council’s Treasurer, Solomon Johnson Udih; and the Ukwuani Local Government Legislative House.
The suit, brought pursuant to Order 44 Rules 1–3 of the Delta State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2018, and provisions of the Delta State Local Government Establishment Law, 2017, alleges persistent refusal by the council’s executive to publish and declare its monthly revenue, income and expenditure from July 2024 to date.
The councillor is asking the court to declare that the failure of the treasurer to publish the council’s financial records amounts to a breach of statutory duty and a violation of the law governing local government administration in the state.
He is also seeking an order of mandamus compelling the council chairman to immediately direct the treasurer to publish the said financial records in compliance with statutory provisions.
In addition, the applicant wants the court to compel the chairman to furnish the legislative arm with the council’s monthly wage bill and performance index for the 2025 budget, with copies served on each councillor.
The suit further challenges the council’s budgetary process, alleging that the 2025 draft budget was hurriedly passed within two days without proper legislative scrutiny or debate. According to the applicant, the budget allegedly combined expenditure items belonging to Ukwuani and Ika North East Local Government Areas, a development he described as illegal, opaque and contrary to established financial regulations.
Consequently, the councillor is seeking injunctive relief restraining the chairman from presenting the 2026 draft budget to the legislative arm pending full compliance with statutory financial disclosure obligations.
He is also asking the court to restrain the legislative house from receiving or approving the 2026 budget until the alleged breaches are remedied and all outstanding financial records are made public.
In a statement in support of the application, the councillor said all internal mechanisms to compel compliance had failed, insisting that judicial intervention had become necessary in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance at the grassroots.
The case is expected to test the scope of financial disclosure obligations of local government officials under Delta State law and could set a precedent for strengthening transparency and accountability in council administration across the state.
