By Fatima Saka
The Supreme Court has issued an order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from further releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State government.
This directive will remain in force until Governor Siminalayi Fubara ceases what the court described as “illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional activities.”
In its ruling on Friday, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim declared that no funds should be disbursed to the state government unless a lawful Appropriation Law is enacted under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Additionally, the court ordered the immediate resumption of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, whose activities had been disrupted. The five-member panel, led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji, ruled unanimously, nullifying all actions taken by Governor Fubara, citing them as unlawful.
The apex court strongly condemned Fubara’s decision to demolish the House of Assembly complex, describing it as a criminal act intended to prevent lawmakers from performing their constitutional duties. Justice Agim further directed that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, who were unlawfully redeployed, must be reinstated alongside all assembly staff.
According to the ruling, it was an “aberration” for Governor Fubara to govern with only four out of the 32 lawmakers under the pretext of preventing an impeachment. The Justices accused him of exploiting his immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to undermine democratic governance.
The Supreme Court upheld earlier judgments by the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, both of which had declared the governor’s actions against the 27 lawmakers illegal.
As a consequence, Fubara has been fined ₦10 million, payable to the House of Assembly and the affected lawmakers who initiated the lawsuit.
World NGO Day: SRADev celebrates Impact of NGOs Worldwide
The Federal High Court had previously ruled that Fubara’s receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 amounted to a constitutional violation. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her judgment, held that the presentation and implementation of the 2024 budget before a four-member Assembly was an outright breach of the 1999 Constitution.
She had consequently barred the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and commercial banks, including Zenith Bank and Access Bank, from allowing the governor access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Accounts.
More details to follow…
