Supreme Court Bars CBN from Releasing Funds to Rivers State Government
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from releasing funds to the Rivers State government. This decision comes after the court deemed the state government’s actions as “flagrant disobedience” to court orders.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, who led a five-man panel of the court. In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal, which challenged the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.
According to the court, Governor Fubara’s actions, including presenting an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly, were in clear violation of a court order. This action denied twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation, which the court deemed an “aberration.”
The court held that it is an aberration for Governor Fubara to have purportedly presented an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly, thereby denying twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation in vagrant violation of a court order mandating him (Fubara) to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.
Furthermore, the court criticized Governor Fubara’s handling of the alleged defection of twenty-eight members of the Rivers Assembly, describing it as “an act of brigandage and dictatorship” aimed at preventing the House from performing its legitimate functions under Amaewhule’s speakership.
In light of this ruling, the court ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This decision is expected to have significant implications for the governance of Rivers State, and it remains to be seen how the state government will respond to the court’s decision.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a clear indication that the judiciary will not tolerate disobedience to court orders, and that those in power must respect the rule of law. As the people of Rivers State await the next move of the state government, one thing is certain: the Supreme Court’s decision will have far-reaching consequences for the governance of the state.
