By Our Reporter
The Supreme Court, on Friday, reversed the Court of Appeal’s ruling that had allowed the release of statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State. The apex court’s decision reinstated an earlier order that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing funds to the state.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court also directed the 27 lawmakers, led by Hon. Martins Amaewhule’s faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to immediately resume sitting without hindrance.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the judgment, stated that the Court of Appeal had misinterpreted the core issues in the case. The Court of Appeal’s incorrect analysis led it to conclude that the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, a view the Supreme Court disagreed with.
The Supreme Court stressed that the real issue was Governor Siminalaye Fubara’s refusal to comply with a valid court order requiring him to present the Appropriation Bill to the legitimate Assembly. The apex court further dismissed the claim that the 27 lawmakers, who had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), were no longer members of the House of Assembly. It reaffirmed that they remained valid members of the Rivers State legislature.
This ruling comes after the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had previously allowed the release of state funds, following Governor Fubara’s refusal to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill before the faction led by Hon. Amaewhule.