Breaking: Court Orders CBN to Stop Release of Federal Allocation To Rivers State

The judge held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Gov Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was illegal and unconstitutional.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop releasing monthly federal allocations to the Rivers State Government.

Justice Abdulmalik opined that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was illegal and must not be allowed to continue. The judge described the illegal disbursement as a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge also held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the Constitutional provision.  Hence, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank were restrained by the court from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.