The Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on Wednesday, preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further disbursing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State government.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the order also extends to the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), as well as Zenith Bank and Access Bank, where the state holds accounts.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declared that the ongoing receipt and distribution of monthly allocations by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara since January 2024 amounted to a constitutional violation that could not be allowed to continue.
The judge further stated that Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before a four-member Rivers State House of Assembly was in direct violation of constitutional provisions. She described the governor’s implementation of the budget as a significant breach of the 1999 Constitution, which he had sworn to uphold.
As a result, the court ordered the CBN, AGF, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank to stop granting Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
