There are strong indications that the South-South governors may take the Federal Government to court over $1bn withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency in the country.
The stance of the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson-led forum is that the Federal Government must release to the oil-producing states the 13 per cent derivation component of the withdrawn $1bn from ECA.
The South-South Governors Forum, had in a communique read by Governor Dickson after their meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, resolved to press for the release of the 13 per cent derivation component of the amount.
A top Bayelsa State government official, who spoke put our correspondent, said many indicators pointed to the direction that the South-South governors were bent on taking the Federal Government to court over the matter.
The ranking government official said for the first time, the governors went to the meeting with their attorneys-general and commissioners for finance.
He said, “The implication of that is that while the commissioners for finance will be doing the necessary calculations on the disputed financial matter, the attorneys-general will be preparing the necessary papers for litigation.
“So, the governors in the region are on the same page on this 13 per cent derivation matter. From feelers, we have the feeling that the Federal Government will not like the matter to escalate to the point of the governors going to court, hence it (Federal Government) may opt for out-of court settlement.”
