The supreme court has affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
The apex court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state house of assembly and other elected members of the house to resume sitting.
The Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers assembly is loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court also ordered that Amaewhule and other 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties unhindered.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, condemned the conduct of Governor Simi Fubara, who he noted chose to destroy the government of Rivers State and resort acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.
The apex court set aside and earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers State.
It awarded a cost of N50million against Fubara and the Government of Rivers State, to be paid to the Rivers Assembly and Amaewhule.
