JUST IN: Court Stops Further Federal Allocations to Rivers State

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing further financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. The court’s decision will remain in effect until a lawful appropriation act is passed by a fully constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.

The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in response to a suit filed by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.

The ruling arose after Governor Siminalayi Fubara presented the Rivers State’s 2024 Appropriation Bill to an Assembly with only four members in attendance— a quorum Justice Abdulmalik ruled was insufficient for lawful appropriation procedures. The court found the move by the governor, and the four-member Assembly, to be a breach of constitutional requirements.

This ruling has significant implications for Rivers State, effectively freezing access to federal allocations until the state Assembly can convene with a valid quorum to pass the appropriation bill.

Details shortly……