The Supreme Court of Nigeria has issued an order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other relevant agencies from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government.
This decision comes as a result of what the court described as the state’s flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the validity of the Rivers State House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.
The court ruled that Martin Amaewhule should immediately resume sitting with all other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Supreme Court emphasized that Governor Fubara’s action of presenting an appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly was an aberration, depriving 28 constituencies of proper representation and violating a court order that mandated the governor to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.
The court further condemned Governor Fubara’s actions regarding the alleged defection of 28 members of the Rivers Assembly, describing it as an act of “brigandage and dictatorship,” aimed at obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its legitimate duties under the leadership of Amaewhule.
The judgement also criticised the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Governor Fubara, calling it an excessive use of executive power to frustrate the functioning of the Assembly.
In a separate judgment, the Supreme Court declared the local government election held on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) invalid.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, delivering the ruling, found that the election violated the Electoral Act, with RSIEC continuing voter registration even after announcing the election date. The court ruled that the electoral process had been abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act, rendering the election void for lack of substantial compliance with the law.
