19/07/2026
PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE KAKAKI EVENT CENTRE, TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION, AND THE PURPORTED ACTION BY BIDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL
For Immediate Public Awareness and Necessary Action
The attention of the Lavun Local Government Council has been drawn to a purported public notice and administrative action allegedly issued by the Bida Local Government Council purporting to revoke the business permit of, and close down, Kakaki Event Centre in connection with an alleged incident involving underage persons.
The Lavun Local Government Council considers it necessary to place the following facts and legal position before the public.
1. LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS ANY SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OR ABUSE OF CHILDREN
The Lavun Local Government Council unequivocally condemns any act involving the sexual exploitation, abuse, grooming, production, distribution or possession of sexually explicit material involving children.
Where credible evidence exists that criminal offences have been committed, the appropriate law-enforcement and prosecutorial authorities should investigate the matter and, where the evidence supports it, prosecute the persons responsible in accordance with the law.
The protection of children is a responsibility shared by all levels of government and society.
However, the condemnation of alleged criminal conduct does not authorise any public authority to act outside the powers conferred upon it by the Constitution and applicable laws.
No person, institution, local government council or traditional authority is above the law.
2. KAKAKI EVENT CENTRE IS LOCATED WITHIN LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
The central fact in this matter is that the land and premises upon which Kakaki Event Centre is situated are within the territorial jurisdiction of Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.
Consequently, any local-government regulatory question concerning the business premises including applicable local-government permits, local rates, regulatory compliance and administrative measures within the competence of a local government must be considered with regard to the lawful territorial jurisdiction of the relevant local government.
A local government council cannot exercise unlimited authority over every property or business within Niger State.
Its powers are territorial and must be exercised within the area legally prescribed for that council.
3. THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE EXISTENCE AND DEFINED TERRITORIAL AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS
Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils.
Section 7(2) further provides that the area over which a local government council may exercise authority must be clearly defined.
The constitutional implication is clear:
Each local government council exercises public authority within its legally defined area of jurisdiction.
The Constitution does not create a situation where one local government council may simply assume the administrative powers of another local government council over property situated outside its territory.
The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution also sets out functions of local government councils, including the regulation of certain local activities and facilities.
Those functions are not a licence for one local government to exercise the powers of another local government over premises located within the latter's territory.
The Constitution must be respected not only when it is convenient, but also when public emotions are high.
4. BIDŠ LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT UNILATERALLY EXERCISE LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORIAL AUTHORITY
The Lavun Local Government Council respectfully maintains that the mere occurrence of an alleged incident at a premises located within Lavun Local Government does not confer territorial regulatory jurisdiction upon Bida Local Government Council.
If a business permit relating to the premises was issued by Lavun Local Government Council, then the question of its suspension, cancellation or revocation must be determined by the authority legally empowered to issue and regulate that permit, subject to the applicable law.
A local government bye-law cannot ordinarily create extra-territorial powers for a local government council over premises located within another local government area unless a valid superior law expressly provides such authority.
Accordingly, a purported revocation by Bida Local Government Council of a business permit relating to a business situated within Lavun Local Government Area raises serious questions of:
- territorial jurisdiction;
- statutory authority;
- legal competence;
- due process; and
- the validity of the purported administrative action.
Public outrage, however justified, cannot substitute for jurisdiction.
5. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS DIFFERENT FROM LOCAL-GOVERNMENT BUSINESS REGULATION
The alleged conduct involving minors, if established, may constitute offences under applicable criminal laws.
However, the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences are matters for the competent law-enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.
A local government council cannot, merely by administrative declaration, convict a person of a criminal offence.
Similarly, a local government council must not use an allegation of criminal conduct as a basis for assuming powers that the law has not granted to it.
The proper legal process is:
1. preservation of evidence;
2. investigation by the competent authorities;
3. protection of any child victims;
4. identification of persons responsible;
5. prosecution where the evidence supports criminal charges; and
6. determination by a competent court.
This is the rule of law.
6. THE RIGHT TO FAIR HEARING MUST BE RESPECTED
Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the right to fair hearing in the determination of civil rights and obligations and in criminal proceedings.
Administrative action affecting a person's business, property, licence or legal rights must be exercised in accordance with the law.
The fact that the public is angry does not eliminate the requirements of legality, due process and fair hearing.
The principle is simple:
An allegation is not the same as a conviction, and public outrage is not a substitute for due process.
Any person or business whose rights are adversely affected by administrative action is entitled to challenge unlawful action before a competent court.
7. THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY AND THE RULE OF LAW
Section 43 of the Constitution protects the right of every citizen to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria, subject to the Constitution and applicable law.
Section 44 also provides constitutional protection against compulsory acquisition of property except in accordance with law.
This does not mean that a business premises is immune from lawful regulation, investigation or closure where a competent authority acts within the law.
It does mean, however, that property and business rights cannot be interfered with arbitrarily or by an authority lacking legal jurisdiction.
A lawful government must act:
within the law, under the law and according to the law.
8. THE ROLE OF THE EMIRATE AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The Lavun Local Government Council recognises and respects the important cultural, traditional and moral role of traditional institutions.
The protection of Nupe cultural values and the condemnation of immorality are matters that deserve serious attention.
However, traditional authority and statutory governmental authority are not identical.
An Emirate or traditional institution may condemn conduct, counsel the community, support peace and order, and exercise powers expressly recognised by law or custom.
However, traditional authority cannot, without lawful statutory authority, assume the administrative powers constitutionally or statutorily vested in a local government council.
In a constitutional democracy:
Moral authority must operate alongside legal authority, not in place of it.
The Emirate cannot simply replace Lavun Local Government Council in the exercise of statutory local-government powers over land and premises located within Lavun Local Government Area unless a valid law expressly confers such authority.
9. LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT DEFEND CRIMINALITY BUT WILL DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
For the avoidance of doubt, the position of Lavun Local Government Council is not a defence of the alleged conduct at the event centre.
If any adult facilitated, organised, encouraged, recorded, distributed or participated in criminal conduct involving children, such persons should face the full consequences of the law.
The position of Lavun Local Government Council is a defence of:
- the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
- the territorial integrity of Lavun Local Government Area;
- the rule of law;
- due process;
- the constitutional separation of governmental powers;
- the right to fair hearing; and
- the principle that no public authority may act beyond the powers granted to it by law.
The fight against immorality and criminality must not become an excuse for administrative lawlessness.
10. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL
In view of the foregoing, the Lavun Local Government Council shall:
a. formally document and establish the exact location and jurisdictional status of the Kakaki Event Centre;
b. review the relevant land, planning, development and business-permit records relating to the premises;
c. demand clarification from the relevant authorities regarding the legal basis of any purported action taken by Bida Local Government Council;
d. notify the appropriate authorities that the premises are located within Lavun Local Government Area;
e. cooperate fully with competent law-enforcement agencies in any investigation into alleged criminal conduct involving minors;
f. ensure that any local-government administrative action within Lavun is taken strictly in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws;
g. obtain legal advice on the validity of any purported extra-territorial administrative action; and
h. where necessary, seek appropriate judicial remedies to protect the lawful constitutional and statutory authority of Lavun Local Government Council.
11. FINAL POSITION
The Lavun Local Government Council will not condone the abuse, exploitation or sexualisation of children.
At the same time, the Council will not permit the Constitution to be ignored simply because a matter has generated public anger.
The law must apply equally to everyoneāincluding government authorities.
If Kakaki Event Centre is situated within Lavun Local Government Area, then the lawful regulatory jurisdiction of Lavun Local Government cannot simply be displaced by a unilateral administrative action of another local government council.
The relevant criminal allegations should be investigated by the competent authorities.
The responsible persons, if found culpable, should face prosecution.
But the question of the power to regulate, suspend, revoke or close a business premises must be determined by the Constitution and applicable law not by emotion, public pressure or administrative overreach.
LAVUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL THEREFORE CALLS ON ALL AUTHORITIES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW, TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
Mohammed Dazhi
Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman,
Lavun Local Government Council.
July 19th, 2026
