Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing allocations to the Rivers State Government pending when a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Wednesday while delivering judgement on a suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
Justice Abdulmalik 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.
She described the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 by Fubara as a “constitutional somersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.”
Justice Abdulmalik also held that Fubara’s action in implementing an unlawful budget is a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.
She proceeded to restrain the CBN, Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account (CRFA).
Details later……