Rivers State Appeals Court Ruling Halting Allocations, Cites Concerns Over Impact

The Rivers State government has filed an appeal following a recent decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restricts the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from distributing federal allocations to the state. The ruling, issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, contends that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a small faction of the Rivers House of Assembly breaches constitutional guidelines.

Justice Abdulmalik criticized the governor’s continuous receipt of monthly federal funds, labeling it a significant constitutional infraction. The judgment also prohibits the CBN, the Accountant-General, and financial institutions from granting Rivers State access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Accounts.

According to the court, Fubara’s reliance on a factional, four-member House of Assembly—disqualified by prior Federal High Court and Court of Appeal rulings—was used to justify the state’s budget presentation, which the court deemed “unlawful.” The court upheld that the legislative body led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule remains the legitimate assembly.

The ruling prompted a closed-door meeting in Port Harcourt’s Government House between Finance Minister Wale Edun, Governor Fubara, and other officials, as shown in a widely shared video. The discussions reportedly centered on the ruling’s financial implications for the state.

Rivers State’s Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, confirmed that an appeal has been lodged, expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal will overturn the judgment. Johnson argued that the court’s refusal to accept Rivers State’s objections, as well as the exclusion of 23 council chairmen from the proceedings, reflected a predetermined outcome.

“This judgment will affect civil servants, especially those at the local government level,” Johnson explained. He stressed that withholding federal allocations would disrupt essential services, including teachers’ salaries and council development funds, potentially stalling the state’s economic progress.

Johnson urged stakeholders to approach the matter judiciously, emphasizing that “only the court can resolve this legal issue” and cautioning that “Rivers State will bear the brunt if the ruling stands.”