The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a decisive order preventing the Federal Government from releasing funds to Rivers State, citing violations of legislative procedure in the state’s budget approval process.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order in a judgment delivered Wednesday on a suit brought forward by a faction of the Rivers State House of Court Blocks Allocations to Rivers State Until Budget Complianceled by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule. The court’s decision also restricts the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from permitting the state to draw from the consolidated revenue account.
This ruling follows an earlier judgment by Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had breached procedure by presenting the 2024 state budget to a smaller, unauthorized assembly faction. Justice Omotosho previously instructed the governor to re-submit the budget to the assembly faction led by Hon. Amaewhule.
Amaewhule, reportedly aligned with former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, argued that the state executive had failed to comply with court orders and sought a freeze on funding releases until lawful approval is obtained. Defendants in the case include the CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and other state officials.
Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling stated that Governor Fubara’s submission of the budget to a four-member assembly contravened constitutional requirements. She emphasized that all budgetary allocations must be presented to a properly constituted legislative assembly before funds are legally allocated or disbursed.
“The 2024 Appropriation Bill operated by the governor without legitimate Assembly approval is a constitutional violation,” Abdulmalik stated. “Public funds cannot be disbursed based on an unapproved budget by an improperly constituted assembly.”
Justice Abdulmalik’s order now bars Rivers State’s financial institutions from disbursing state funds until the governor complies by presenting the budget to the assembly led by Hon. Amaewhule.
