The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease disbursing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State government.
This decision stems from the court’s determination that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s receipt and disbursement of these allocations since January 2024 constitute a constitutional violation.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who issued the order on Wednesday, highlighted that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly contravenes constitutional provisions.
The judge emphasized that implementing an unlawful budget represents a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution, which the governor is sworn to uphold.
Consequently, the court has restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from allowing Governor Fubara to access funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Earlier this month, on October 10, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a lower court’s decision nullifying the Rivers State 2024 budget signed into law by Governor Fubara.
The N800 billion budget, passed in December 2023 by a faction of the state’s House of Assembly consisting of four lawmakers led by Edison Ehie, was deemed illegitimate.
A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Joseph Oyewole, unanimously recognized the faction led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate legislative authority, thereby invalidating the state’s 2024 budget.
