The Supreme Court has affirmed the judgement of Federal High Court in Abuja that stopped the release of federal monthly allocations from the consolidated funds to the Rivers State Government.
A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Uwani-Aba-Aji unanimously set aside the appeal court judgement that earlier nullified the lower court judgement on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction.
The apex also awarded a cost of five million naira against Rivers State governor and to be paid to the appellants.
The Supreme Court judgement faulted the decision of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for presenting the state Appropriation Bill to four lawmakers.
In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the court affirmed Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers States House of Assembly.
The court further ordered the Assembly to immediately resume sitting with all the Elected Members.
The panel held that the crisis in River State was due to non adherence to the rule of law and flagrant disobedience to the court order.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja had in her judgement delivered on October 30, 2024 restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Accountant General of the Federation, from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government on alleged constitutional breach.
According to the judge, the budget being operated by the state was not passed by a lawful arm of the Rivers State House of Assembly, therefore the government should be prevented from alleged further violation of the laws.
