The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned previous orders that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing funds to the Rivers State Government.
In a ruling delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, the court held that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction to decide on the matter of Rivers State’s revenue. The panel, in a split decision of 2-1, faulted the earlier judgment that restrained Governor Siminalayi Fubara from accessing state allocations.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court had previously ruled on October 30, citing the governor’s alleged violation of constitutional provisions by presenting an N800 billion 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly. Abdulmalik claimed that implementing such a budget contravened Sections 120, 122, and 197 of the Constitution.
The Appeal Court, however, nullified the decision, affirming the Rivers State Government’s right to access its monthly allocations, thus restoring the financial flow to the state.
