Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from continuing to release monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
In her judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Abdulmalik determined that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly constituted a violation of constitutional provisions.
Justice AbdulMalik described the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a “constitutional sommersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.”
Justice Abdulmalik stated that Fubara’s actions in implementing what she deemed an unlawful budget represented significant violations of the 1999 Constitution, which he pledged to uphold.
The judge herefore restrainined CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from allowing the Rivers Governor from accessing money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
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As a result, she has ordered the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank to refrain from allowing Fubara to access funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Further details regarding the case are expected to follow.
