S’court Affirms Court Ruling Stopping Rivers Allocations, Reinstates Martins-led Assembly

By Preye Bagou, Yenagoa

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the judgment of a Federal High Court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State.

Recall that a federal high court in Abuja, on the 30th of October, 2024, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing statutory allocations to the Rivers state government.

Hot News reported that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.

Justice Abdulmalik held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

The judge held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.

Justice Abdulmalik specifically said that the governor’s action was a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge subsequently restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

Furthermore, the apex court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state house of assembly and other elected members of the house to resume sitting immediately.

The Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state assembly is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike.

Reporting: Hot News Reporters