The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State government.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Wednesday, the court held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the Constitutional provision.

Justice AbdulMalik described the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a “constitutional sommersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.”

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AbdulMalik held that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.

The judge herefore restrainined CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from allowing the Rivers Governor from accessing money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

With years of experience in Nigerian journalism, Iniobong Iwok has built a reputation for deep political insight, compelling storytelling, and consistent, fact-driven reporting. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience reporting and writing incisive political analysis. Iniobong has interviewed key political figures across Nigeria and covered major national events, including the 2019 and 2023 general elections. A versatile journalist, he also has strong experience in education reporting and sector analysis. His work reflects a deep commitment to good governance and public accountability. Iniobong holds a B.Sc. in Sociology from the University of Ilorin and an M.Sc. in Sociology (Development Specialisation) from Lagos State University.

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