A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN from further releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
This is till pending the passage of a lawful appropriation by a validly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Wednesday in a judgement on a suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
The court held that the decision by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the Rivers State’s 2024 Appropriation Bill to a four-member Assembly that was not properly constituted should not be allowed to stand.
Specifically, the judge said that Fubara’s action in implementing an unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.
The judge therefore restrained 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.
DAILY GIST reports there has been political crisis in Rivers state following supremacy battle between governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The 27 lawmakers of the Rivers assembly led by by Martins Amaewhule are loyal to Wike while 4 other members are loyal to Fubara.
More details to follow…
