Court Lifts Injunction On Ukwuani 2026 Budget, Clears Council To Resume Implementation

The High Court of Delta State sitting in Obiaruku has vacated its earlier order restraining the implementation of the 2026 Budget of Ukwuani Local Government Council after ruling that the council had substantially complied with its previous judgment on financial transparency and accountability.

Delivering the ruling in Suit No. HOB/M/1/2026 on June 16, 2026, Justice Samuel I. Okeleke held that the Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Area, Hon. Chiamaka Solomon Possible Ajede, the council’s Treasurer, Solomon Johnson Udih, and the Ukwuani Local Government Legislative House had presented credible evidence establishing compliance with the court’s order of mandamus issued on May 12, 2026.

The application arose from a suit instituted by Councillor Chukwuemeke Victor Kenneth, who sought an order compelling the council to publish its financial records and comply with statutory accountability provisions.

In its earlier judgment, the court directed the council to make public its monthly revenue, income and expenditure from July 2024, furnish the Legislative House with the monthly wage bill and performance index of the 2025 Budget, and ensure that the records were presented to and debated by the legislature.

To prove compliance, the respondents tendered a resolution of the Legislative House indicating that councillors had received, examined and adopted the financial reports, alongside an attendance register signed by 19 councillors acknowledging receipt of the documents. The court also accepted photographic evidence showing that the financial statements were displayed on the council’s public notice board.

Justice Okeleke held that the applicant failed to discredit the documentary evidence and ruled that the objective of the earlier judgment—promoting transparency and accountability—had been substantially achieved. Consequently, the court vacated and discharged the injunction restraining implementation of the 2026 budget and authorised the council to proceed with full implementation. No order as to costs was made.

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The ruling follows weeks of public debate over the dispute. Critics of the administration had circulated Facebook posts accusing the council chairman of refusing to comply with the court’s earlier judgment and also criticised an appearance by the Majority Leader of the Ukwuani Legislative House, Hon. Gabriel Ibobo, on Arise News, claiming the interview failed to adequately address questions on accountability.

However, when contacted by our correspondent, Hon. Gabriel Ibobo maintained that the council had fully complied with the court’s directives.

He explained that the sum of ₦327,820,138.41 represented the council’s capital expenditure for the 2024 financial year, adding that it formed part of the comprehensive financial accounts submitted to the Legislative House and presented before the court.

According to him, the document referred to by the Arise News correspondent was only one component of the council’s financial records, stressing that government accounts cannot be presented or interpreted in isolation but must be viewed as a complete financial statement.

Ibobo further noted that the current administration assumed office in July 2024, explaining that the financial records covered the period from the commencement of the administration.

He also stated that he was not given sufficient time during the Arise News interview to fully explain the issues surrounding the court case and the financial records presented by the council. According to him, a more detailed discussion would have enabled him to clarify that the document referenced during the programme was only one aspect of the council’s overall accounts and provide viewers with a better understanding of the council’s compliance with the court’s directives.

In a separate telephone interview with our correspondent, the Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Area, Hon. Chiamaka Solomon Possible Ajede, welcomed the court’s ruling, describing it as a vindication of the council’s position that it had substantially complied with the judicial directives and met the required standards of fiscal transparency and accountability.

Ajede dismissed the criticisms trailing the case, saying he would not be distracted by what he described as “onitsha market gossip.”

“I have no time for gossip and ‘enemies of progress’, I will not dignify noisemakers who lack knowledge of how a local government council functions. My focus now is to deliver more dividends of democracy to my people and ensure that Ukwuani benefits from the laudable initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori,” he said.»