By Sunday Apah
On Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order prohibiting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from continuing to release monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The judge emphasized that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member House of Assembly was a violation of constitutional protocols. She characterized the acceptance and distribution of monthly allocations by Fubara since January as a severe breach of constitutional norms that should not persist.
In addition, Justice Abdulmalik noted that Fubara’s implementation of an unlawful budget constituted significant violations of the 1999 Constitution, which he vowed to uphold.
The court also directed the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank to refrain from permitting Fubara to access funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
