When Hon. Abu Giri was Speaker of the Gwagwalada Area Council Legislative Arm, he was known for demanding strict adherence to appropriation laws. Now, as the outgoing Chairman, he has allegedly thrown the rulebook into the rubbish bin — spending millions of naira without a single approved budget for the entire fiscal year.
In a searing petition that landed on the ICPC’s desk on May 11, 2026, the International Whistleblowers Network (IWBN) painted a chilling picture of executive impunity.
“That a man who once served as Speaker at Gwagwalada Area Council and therefore claims to understand the legislative process is now leading a government that completely ignores the legislature is deeply troubling,” the petition states.
Budget Retreat, No Budget
According to the International Whistleblowers Network, Giri led a delegation of executive members, staff, and even some lawmakers to Kaduna for a publicly declared budget retreat. Taxpayers footed the bill. But months later, the Legislative Arm, led by Late Speaker RT Mohammed G. Ibrahim aide has confirmed it has never received any Appropriation Bill.
Despite that, the council continues to disburse funds daily for salaries, contracts, and administrative costs.
“Spending without appropriation is illegal and constitutes a corrupt practice,” the whistleblowers insist, citing Sections 80 and 120 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which forbid withdrawal of public funds without a valid appropriation law.
A Test Case for Local Government Accountability
The International Whistleblowers Network has thrown down the gauntlet to ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, who recently vowed to hold local government actors accountable. The group called Gwagwalada a “test case” for whether Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is real or merely theatrical.
The petition demands an immediate freeze on all council bank accounts, seizure of financial records, and prosecution of everyone who authorized the illegal spending — from the Chairman down to the Treasurer and Director of Finance.
Residents Speak
Reactions in Gwagwalada were a mix of anger and resignation.
“We see them drive new cars, award contracts to their cousins, but we don’t know how much is budgeted for roads or schools — because there is no budget!” said Mr. Danlami Yusuf, a local trader.
Another resident, Mrs. Grace Monday, asked: “If there is no budget, where is the money coming from? And where is it going?”
When our reporter visited the council secretariat, staff declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Chairman’s media aide, who did not respond to calls or text messages.
The Clock Is Ticking
With the ICPC now in receipt of the petition, pressure is mounting on the anti-graft agency to act swiftly. The IWBN warned that any delay would signal that corruption at the grassroots is tolerated.
“If the ICPC tolerates a situation where a Local Government Council operates for months without a budget spending freely, ignoring the legislature, and treating the Constitution as a mere suggestion — then the fight against corruption is merely theatrical,” the petition concluded.
As of press time, no official reaction has come from Hon. Abu Giri or the council’s media office.