A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has ordered Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to disclose the state’s financial records from June 2023, amid growing scrutiny of his administration’s management of public funds.

 

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

 

The ruling comes barely 48 hours after Alia publicly warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against interfering in Benue State politics, declaring that he was not Governor Siminalayi Fubara and that Benue was not Rivers State.

 

Under the court’s directive, the governor is required 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 approached the court after alleging that the Alia administration failed 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 directed the state government to comply with the request.

 

The development is expected to intensify public scrutiny of Benue State’s finances, particularly amid the ongoing political exchanges between Alia and Wike over the state’s political direction and financial resources.

 

Wike, PDP Raise Questions Over Benue Allocations

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The court order comes amid controversy over claims by Wike that Benue State receives approximately ₦30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

 

Following the minister’s claim, the Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged Alia to explain how the funds had been spent or publicly dispute the figures.

 

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

 

The PDP demanded detailed accounts of expenditure on security, healthcare, education, agriculture and infrastructure, questioning the impact of the funds on residents.

 

However, the allegations and figures raised by the opposition remain separate from the legal proceedings initiated by Waya.

 

Court Order Does Not Establish Financial Misconduct

Although the ruling places Benue State’s financial records under greater public scrutiny, it does not establish that Alia or his administration misappropriated public funds.

 

The case arose from a freedom of information request seeking access to government financial records, rather than a prosecution or determination of financial misconduct.

 

The disclosure is expected to provide information that could help the public assess the state’s revenue and expenditure since June 2023.

 

The ruling also adds a new dimension to the political tensions surrounding Alia’s administration, as disagreements over governance, public accountability and the influence of external political figures continue to feature in Benue State’s political landscape.