On Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from continuing to release monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
This decision came in response to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 state budget before only a four-member Rivers House of Assembly, which the court found to be a violation of constitutional requirements.
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Justice Abdulmalik described Governor Fubara’s actions, including his receipt and disbursement of funds since January, as a “constitutional somersault and aberration.” She emphasized that these actions bypassed the legal framework set out by the 1999 Constitution, stating that the budget process should involve full legislative participation and transparency to ensure accountability.
The ruling further restrains the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from permitting Governor Fubara or the Rivers State Government to access funds from both the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the Federation Account.
This injunction is set to remain in effect until compliance with proper constitutional procedures is established, effectively halting the state’s access to federal allocations until further notice.
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