Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from continuing the monthly release of financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the receipt and distribution of these allocations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara since January breached the Constitution, calling it an irregularity that cannot continue. She highlighted that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was a direct violation of constitutional provisions.
The judge further declared the governor’s actions as a significant breach of the 1999 Constitution.
As a result, Justice Abdulmalik has restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, as well as Zenith Bank and Access Bank, from granting Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
