The Supreme Court has prohibited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from disbursing funds to the Rivers State government until it rectifies what the court has termed a blatant disregard for court orders.
In a judgement that lasted one hour and thirty-six minutes on Friday, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye said that the five-member apex court panel unanimously rejected the cross-appeal submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which questioned the legitimacy of the House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
The court ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court held that it was an aberration for Governor Fubara to have purportedly presented an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly thereby denying 28 constituencies of effective representation in a blatant violation of a court order mandating him (Fubara) to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.
The apex court also ruled that the actions of Governor Fubara over the alleged defection of 28 members of the Rivers Assembly was an act of brigandage and dictatorship aimed at preventing the House from performing its legitimate functions under the speakership of Amaewhule.
The court also held that the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Governor Fubara was an act of indiscipline bordering on the excessive use of executive might to frustrate the sitting of the Assembly led by Amaewhule.
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