Federal High Court Stops Rivers State Monthly Allocation Over Budget Violations
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State government. This decision, delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday, came in response to a suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik described Governor Siminalayi Fubara's receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 as a "constitutional somersault and aberration." She emphasized that such actions must be halted, citing the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly as a violation of constitutional provisions.
The court further noted that Fubara’s implementation of an allegedly unlawful budget constitutes a severe breach of the 1999 Constitution, which he swore to uphold. Consequently, the judge has ordered the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and commercial banks including Zenith Bank and Access Bank to block Fubara’s access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Accounts.
Comments