BREAKING: Supreme Court Bars Disbursement of Funds to Rivers State
The Supreme Court has issued an order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other relevant agencies from disbursing funds to the Rivers State government until the state addresses what the court describes as a blatant disregard for court orders.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, which lasted one hour and thirty-six minutes, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye and the five-member panel of the apex court unanimously rejected the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The appeal had challenged the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
The court further ordered Speaker Martin Amaewhule to immediately resume sittings with other duly elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court condemned Governor Fubara for allegedly presenting an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly, thus denying 28 constituencies effective representation and violating a prior court order. The ruling mandated Fubara to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.
In its ruling, the apex court described Fubara’s actions regarding the alleged defection of 28 members of the Assembly as an act of brigandage and dictatorship, aimed at undermining the House’s ability to function under Amaewhule’s speakership.
Additionally, the court condemned the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Governor Fubara, calling it an act of indiscipline and an abuse of executive power intended to frustrate the legitimate operations of the Assembly led by Amaewhule.
