Rivers in Fresh Crisis as Court stops CBN from releasing Monthly Allocation

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the government of Rivers State.

The court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is a constitutional somersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Justice Abdulmalik who issued the order on Wednesday, held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.

Specifically, the Judge said that Fubara’s action in implementing the unlawful budget smacked of gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.

The judge, therefore, restrained CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money due to the state from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account