Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The court ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member Rivers House of Assembly violated constitutional provisions.
She called Fubara’s receipt and disbursement of monthly appropriations since January of this year a constitutional somersault and aberration that cannot be tolerated.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that Fubara’s actions in executing an illegal budget constituted gross violations of the 1999 Constitution, which he promised to safeguard.
She then directed the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank to prevent Fubara from further accessing funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Fubara presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to five members of the state House of Assembly who are loyal to him on 13 December, 2023..
The presentation occurred just minutes after the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex began.
The 27 House members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were absent from the meeting.
