Court orders Alia to disclose Benue financial records

By Kazeem Sherifat

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to disclose the state’s financial records dating back to June 2023, amid mounting questions over how his administration has managed public funds.

Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, issued the order following a lawsuit filed by Joseph Waya, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The court directed the governor to make available records of the state’s federal allocations, internally generated revenue, loans, grants, government contracts and other sources of public funding.

The disclosure also covers foreign donations, personnel costs and pension payments.

Waya had approached the court after accusing the Alia administration of failing to provide comprehensive financial information he requested under the Freedom of Information Act on September 8, 2025.

The court upheld his right to access the records and ordered the state government to comply.

The ruling comes amid controversy over claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that Benue receives about ₦30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Alia to explain how the funds have been spent or publicly dispute Wike’s figures.

The opposition party also alleged that combined federal allocations to the state government and its 23 local government areas had exceeded ₦1.3 trillion since Alia assumed office in May 2023.

It demanded detailed accounts of expenditure on security, healthcare, education, agriculture and infrastructure, questioning what residents had gained from the increased allocations.

The court’s directive, however, arose from Waya’s freedom of information lawsuit and does not amount to a finding of financial misconduct against Alia or his administration.