Court bars CBN from further release of financial allocation to Rivers state government

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government pending when a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.

The judge  issued the order on Wednesday, Octopus 30, in a  judgment on a suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

Justice Abdulmalik held that the decision by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the Rivers State’s 2024 Appropriation Bill to a four-member Assembly, that was not properly constituted, should not be allowed to stand.

Rivers state has been enmeshed in political crisis between Gov Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.