The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend monthly allocations to Rivers state from the Federation Account until an appropriation law is duly implemented.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja had barred the release of allocations from the federal government to Rivers State until the governor re-presented the budget before the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly members.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned the judgment on the grounds of grave injustice in the findings and decisions.
The Supreme court in another judgment also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voter’s register to the Rivers state government to conduct local government election in the State.
The Court of Appeal had overturned the decision of Justice Peter Lifu, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had ruled against the conduct of the October 5, 2024, local government council election in Rivers because due process of Rivers State laws on local government elections had not been followed.
The apex court also ruled that Martin Ameawhule and 26 others remain members of Rivers State house of Assembly and ordered them to immediately resume their duties as lawmakers.
The apex court says the governor’s fear of impeachment is not a justified reason for the attack on the Assembly
It further says that the governor has chosen to collapse the legislature in the state, as it stands there is no government in Rivers State.
The court decided that until the House of Assembly is officially constituted and the appropriation bill is delivered to the Ameawhule-led House of Assembly, all allocations to Rivers State will be halted.
The apex court adds that four members of the House of Assembly cannot constitute the required hold to transact the business of the House of Assembly, and the governor’s presentation of the appropriation bill to the four-member house is a gross violation of the oath of office the governor sworn to protect.
