Bauchi govt faces court over engagement of private coy in revenue collection

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

Citizens of Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi state have filed a suit in a Federal High Court against Bauchi state government for engaging the services of a private firm Casacada to collect revenue on behalf of Bauchi Local Government Area.
The suit is filed before Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi by Bauchi LGA citizens Garba Ibrahim and two others against the state government, Anthony General and the Cascada company in Bauchi.
The counsel to the plaintiff Garba Ibrahim and two others. Barrister Hussaini Saraki said section 7 of the 1999 constitution has given the local government a right over its internally generated revenue.
“We made to understand that the state government had signed an MOU with a company in Bauchi called Cascada over collection of Revenue from the local government which does not go well with the citizens that is why they filed a suit against the three defendant”
“If you look at it critical is illegal because Bauchi Local government is a sovereign body that has the right and staff responsible for collecting revenue even if there is arrangements it should be between the Local Government and the private company not between the state and the company, these are the grievances” he said
“They are stakeholders, citizens who paid revenue and taxes in Bauchi ,that is why the arrangements did not go well with them and decide to file a suit against the government and the company” Hussaini said
Meanwhile the counsel to the defendant Cascada Company Bauchi Maimuna Musa Koko esq, said ‘the matter could not go on because we file a notice of preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of these honorable court , therefore the matter is adjourned to December 14 2017.
The president judge Justice Muhammad Shitu Abubakar has since adjourned the suit to 14 December 2017 for hearing of both motions.