On Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease further financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. This decision comes after Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented the 2024 budget to only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which Justice Abdulmalik deemed a serious violation of the Constitution.
Describing the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations by the Rivers State Government since January 2024 as a “constitutional aberration,”The high court judge, Justice Abdulmalik asserted that the situation could not be allowed to persist. She ruled that Fubara’s actions not only disregarded constitutional procedures but also amounted to a violation of the 1999 Constitution he swore to uphold.
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The High Court ruling goes further to restrict the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and major banks including Zenith Bank and Access Bank, from allowing Governor Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
The ruling has sent shockwaves across the state and beyond, as Rivers State now faces financial uncertainty, with significant implications for public services and ongoing projects.
