Supreme Court Bars CBN From Releasing Rivers Allocations

…Reinstates Amaewhule-Led Assembly

The Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop the release of funds to the Rivers State government until the state budget is represented through the House of Assembly.

The apex court also affirmed the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, ordering them to resume sitting immediately.

Delivering the lead judgement on behalf of the five-member panel of the Apex Court, Justice Emmanuel Agim dismissed the appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly, specifically over by Amaewhule.

Justice Agim held that Governor Fubara acted at variance to the constitution when he purportedly presented an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly.

The court, therefore, ordered the governor to re-present the bill to the validly constituted house led by Amaewhule.

The apex court also restrained the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from further releasing budgetary allocations to Rivers until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted state assembly.

The court also barred Governor Fubara from interfering in the affairs of the Rivers Assembly led by its legitimate speaker.

The apex court, therefore, awarded a cost of N5m against Fubara and the Government of Rivers to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Amaewhule.

Supreme Court Bars CBN From Releasing Rivers Allocations is first published on The Whistler Newspaper