Nigeria's ALGON faces $159 million legal fee lawsuit and Kogi LG chairmen tenure dispute

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and 702 local government areas have filed a counter‑affidavit in Abuja seeking dismissal of a $159 million legal‑fees claim brought by senior lawyer Joe Agi, SAN. Agi alleges the Federal Government and related officials issued promissory notes to another lawyer, Dr Ted Edwards, based on a fraudulent 2015 judgment and now demands repayment and compensation.

Separately, ALGON’s Kogi State Chapter refuted a purported lawsuit that claimed Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo intended to dissolve the elected chairmen of the state’s 21 local government areas. The association clarified that chairmen’s two‑year terms run until October 2026 and that no dissolution or caretaker committees are planned.

Both statements underscore ALGON’s effort to counter legal actions it deems baseless and to assure the public that local government administrations will continue under existing constitutional provisions.