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Atiku, MOSOP, and Others Express Concerns After Court Stops Rivers State Allocations

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 31st, 2024.

Atiku, MOSOP, and Others Express Concerns After Court Stops Rivers State Allocations

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling preventing the Federal Government from disbursing monthly allocations to Rivers State. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s decision specifically prohibits the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from allowing the state to access funds from the Consolidated Revenue Account.

The Rivers State government views this ruling as part of a premeditated agenda against it. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warned that the judiciary’s actions could destabilize Rivers State, following the court’s directive for the CBN to stop payments to the state. The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) criticized the judicial system for what they see as unjustly targeting Rivers State.

The ruling originated from a case brought by the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, who, along with 25 other members, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defendants include the CBN, several banks, and key state officials.

The plaintiffs argued that Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed to comply with a previous court order requiring him to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led faction, which has been recognized as the legitimate assembly. The court had invalidated the budget proposal presented by a smaller faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

In response, Rivers State Commissioner for Information Joe Johnson stated that the government was prepared for the ruling and has already appealed it, expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the decision.

Atiku Abubakar, in a statement, questioned the timing of the court’s order, particularly as the legality of the Rivers State budget is currently under appeal. He criticized the ruling as part of a broader trend of judicial overreach that could erode public trust in the legal system.

MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke condemned the court’s decision, arguing that denying the state’s residents access to their livelihoods is both unjust and potentially harmful. He expressed concern that ongoing tensions could lead to significant unrest in Rivers State, emphasizing the importance of respecting pending legal processes.

Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, of the South-South Elders Forum, echoed these sentiments, describing the court’s ruling as a threat to democracy and expressing skepticism about the judiciary’s integrity in handling cases from Rivers State.

Governor Fubara, addressing a gathering in Port Harcourt, remarked on the resilience of his administration in the face of attempts to undermine it, attributing their success to the support of Rivers residents. He framed the court ruling as part of a broader assault on democratic governance in the state.