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ABUJA -Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN from further releasing monthly financial allocations to Rivers state government.
The court 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 made the order in a judgment on the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, by the Rivers State House of Assembly and it’s factional Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
By the suit, the plaintiffs had asked the court to order the withholding of allocations and funds meant for local governments in Rivers state.
Defendants in the suit are; the Central Bank of Nigeria, 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.
In addition, Justice Abdulmalik 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 said that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.
Consequently, the judge therefore 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.
Paschal Njoku holds a Higher National Diploma (Upper Credit), Mass Communication (2002) from the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state. He hails from Naze, Owerri North LGA, Imo State. He has been in active journalism since 2003; married with three sons, and plays quality football and tennis.
