Court stops Federal Allocation to Rivers State

Court stops Rivers State from receiving federal allocations. The state must reconstitute a legally recognised house of assembly before accessing further funds.

An Abuja court in  has  halted federal allocations to Rivers State. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court issued the order, directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease monthly financial disbursements to Rivers State. This means the crisis in Rivers state is far from over.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the monthly allocations received by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara since January breached the Nigerian Constitution. She described the governor’s actions as an “aberration” that must end. Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, she said, was a clear affront to constitutional mandates. This decision marks a critical legal stand, asserting that the governor’s conduct violated the 1999 Constitution.

The court stops CBN, others…

Following Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling, the court ordered the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank to block Fubara’s access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account. The judge’s directive underscores the court’s stance on enforcing accountability.

Earlier, in October, the Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that annulled the N800 billion budget passed by five lawmakers led by Edison Ehie. The appellate court dismissed Fubara’s appeal, citing a lack of merit. It emphasized that Fubara had withdrawn his counter-affidavit during the trial, thus forfeiting his right to appeal.

Court criticises Assembly’s actions

In its judgment, the court expressed concerns about governance in Rivers State, describing it as an “executive dictatorship.” It criticized the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that the situation “was a joke taken too far” under Fubara’s leadership. The court called on the governor to follow the rule of law, not personal influence.

In a separate decision, Justice Omotosho invalidated the 2024 budget passed by pro-Fubara lawmakers, nullifying the presentation and passage. Omotosho ordered that the budget be re-presented before a legally constituted House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule. Justice Omotosho also instructed Fubara to release funds to the Rivers House of Assembly and stop interfering with its activities.