The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government. This follows a legal challenge brought by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani, and other lawmakers who allege that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2024 budget was passed by an illegally constituted House of Assembly.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her ruling, stated that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the budget to a four-member House of Assembly was a “constitutional aberration” and a “gross violation” of the 1999 Constitution. The court found that the budget was not passed by a properly constituted House of Assembly, as required by law.

The court order also restrains the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from releasing any funds to the Rivers State Government. This effectively freezes the state’s access to federal allocations.

Governor Fubara has not yet responded to the court order. However, his supporters have argued that the legal challenge is politically motivated and aimed at destabilizing the state government.

This development is likely to have significant implications for the Rivers State Government, as it will now be unable to access federal funds for its operations. It remains to be seen how the state government will respond to this setback.