The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The decision, according to the court, is following Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to re-present the state’s 2024 budget, which was approved by only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Delivering judgement on the matter today, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Governor Fubara was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.
The judge also held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.
Justice Abdulmalik further stated that the governor’s action was a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The Court decided that the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank should no longer allow Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
The judge also ordered Fubara to abide by the law and re-present the state’s budget.
News About Nigeria reports that, despite a court order and the agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the governor has refused to re-present the state budget.
The decision, according to him, is because he had presented the budget to the Edison Ehie-led Assembly, who were legally members of the Assembly regardless of their number.
