Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN from further releasing monthly financial allocations to Rivers State Government.
The court further ordered that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is a constitutional sommersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.
Justice Abdulmalik gave the order in a judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, by Martin Amaewhule- led Rivers State House of Assembly.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to order the withholding of allocations and funds meant for local governments in Rivers state.
The plaintiffs also named the CBN , Zenith Bank, Access Bank, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Governor of Rivers State (Siminalayi Fubara), the Accountant General of Rivers State, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon. Justice S. C Amadi (Chief Judge of Rivers State), Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Chairman RSIEC), and the Rivers State Government as co-defendants to the suit.
Justice Abdulmalik further held held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provisions.
Specifically, the Judge also held that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which he swore to protect.
Justice Abdulmalik consequently restrainined CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Details shortly.
