Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing any financial allocations to the Rivers State Government until a lawful appropriation act is passed by a properly constituted House of Assembly.
The order was made on Wednesday, October 30, following a suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule.
In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara's decision to present the Rivers State's 2024 Appropriation Bill to a four-member Assembly, which was not duly constituted, was invalid and should not be upheld.
The ruling comes amid ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, particularly between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.