Rivers in Fresh Crisis as Court Stops FG Allocation, Gives Reason

• The Federal High Court in Abuja in Abuja has stopped the federal government from sending allocation to Rivers state
• Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly filed the suit before the court
• The factional house is accusing the state governor Siminalayi Fubara of disobeying the court orders

The Federal High Court in Abuja has made a significant ruling, barring the Federal Government from releasing further monthly allocations to Rivers State. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made this decision, specifically restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from allowing the state to draw funds from the consolidated revenue account.

The Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly filed the lawsuit that led to this ruling. The plaintiffs named several defendants, including the CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the Government of Rivers State.

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Why court stop Rivers allocation

According to Vanguard, the Amaewhule-led faction prayed to the court to withhold all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers State due to Governor Fubara's non-compliance with a court order. This order directed the governor to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to their Rivers State House of Assembly faction.

The plaintiffs argued that the high court had recognized Hon. Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, invalidating the 2024 budget proposal presented to the rival faction led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo. The Court of Appeal also upheld this decision in their favour.

Governor Fubara was accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from the state's consolidated revenues funds, violating Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution. This ruling highlights the ongoing dispute over the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly and its implications for the state's finances.

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PDP youths react as court stops CBN from releasing allocation to Rivers, advise Fubara on what to do

Rivers crisis: Lawyer speaks on Wike vs Fubara

Speaking on the political crisis rocking the state, a legal practitioner, Titilope Anifowoshe, in an interview with Legit.ng, lamented the development and described it as unfortunate.

She said:

"The political development in Rivers State is unfortunate. However, it is merely a continuum of heightened political drama that the state has become known for over the years."

Rivers crisis: Pro-Fubara assembly challenges pro-Wike

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Rivers political crisis has raised new dust as Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of the state assembly kicked against the resolution of the Martin Amaewhule faction.

Martin Amaewhule-led faction barred Governor Siminalayi Fubara from spending public funds on Monday, July 15, over the governor's failure to present the budget to the house.

However, the Oko-Jumbo-led faction claimed that Amaewhule and 24 others were no longer members of the house, calling on INEC to conduct by-elections to fill their places.

Source: Legit.ng