In a crucial legal decision, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to refrain from releasing any financial allocations to the Rivers State Government until a legitimate appropriation act is enacted by a properly constituted House of Assembly.
This ruling, delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. Justice Abdulmalik determined that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s attempt to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a four-member Assembly—deemed improperly constituted—cannot be upheld.
As a result of this court order, all financial activities related to the Rivers State Government will be suspended until the necessary legislative processes are completed. Consequently, no funding will be available until the House of Assembly successfully passes a valid appropriation act.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja confirmed Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Additionally, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the N800 billion budget that had been approved by the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Assembly and subsequently signed into law by Governor Fubara.
The court upheld the lawsuit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Amaewhule against Governor Fubara, which sought an injunction to prevent the governor from undermining the Assembly’s authority.
This legal battle intensified on December 13, 2023, amid ongoing political turmoil in the oil-rich state and the demolition of the Assembly Complex. Governor Fubara presented the 2024 budget proposal of N800 billion to five members of the State Assembly, led by Edison Ehie, in the Government House in Port Harcourt. This presentation occurred after the state government demolished the Assembly Complex and following a court ruling that prevented Amaewhule from accessing the building.
Ehie and the pro-Fubara lawmakers approved the budget estimates, with the governor asserting that it aims to foster economic growth and address socio-economic disparities within the state.
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