A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a pivotal ruling that halted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing further financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. This decision was made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who found that Governor Siminalayi Fubara's actions constituted a breach of constitutional provisions.
The court determined that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Fubara to a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an "affront to the constitutional provision" and a "gross violation of the 1999 Constitution."
Justice Abdulmalik emphasized that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 by Governor Fubara were unconstitutional and should not continue.
Consequently, the court restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from allowing Governor Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
The judgment also highlighted that the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, had filed the suit against the governor's actions. The court underlined that the situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly represented an "executive dictatorship" by the governor, which was deemed unacceptable.
Justice Omotosho, in a related judgment, nullified the 2024 Rivers budget passed by pro-Fubara lawmakers and ordered the governor to re-present the budget to a legally constituted House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.
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