Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease the release of monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, followed concerns regarding the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to a four-member Rivers House of Assembly, which the judge deemed a violation of constitutional provisions.
Justice Abdulmalik described the receipt and distribution of monthly allocations by Governor Fubara since January as a constitutional breach that could not be permitted to continue.
She asserted that the governor’s implementation of what she deemed an unlawful budget represented a significant violation of the 1999 Constitution, which he is obligated to uphold.
As part of the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and banks including Zenith and Access Bank from allowing Governor Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Accounts.
