The Rivers State Government has announced its intention to appeal a Federal High Court ruling that halted the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing funds to the state. This ruling was based on complications regarding the approval process of the state’s budget....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been in ongoing conflict with the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, a supporter of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This political struggle has previously resulted in impeachment attempts against the governor.
In response to the recent ruling, Joseph Johnson, Rivers State’s Commissioner for Information, expressed confidence that the appeal will reverse the judgment. He noted that the government had anticipated this outcome and was already taking steps to contest the ruling.
Johnson stated, “We anticipated this judgment, especially after the trial judge denied 23 council chairmen as parties, rejected the state’s request to change lawyers, and dismissed our jurisdictional challenge regarding the federal high court.
He added that the judgment has been appealed and expressed belief that the Court of Appeal would overturn it, reassuring that there is no reason for panic.
The case originated when Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court determined that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to only four members of the state House of Assembly violated Nigeria’s Constitution. The judge further noted that the governor’s continued use of state funds without full approval constituted a “constitutional violation.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered the Central Bank, along with Zenith Bank and Access Bank, to restrict Fubara’s access to funds until the budget is approved by a properly constituted House of Assembly.
This ruling followed a lawsuit filed by the Rivers House of Assembly and Martins Amaewhule against the CBN, Zenith Bank PLC, Access Bank PLC, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Governor Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers State, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, and other parties as defendants.
The plaintiffs asserted that Governor Fubara had not complied with a prior court order requiring him to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
