In a significant development regarding the financial allocations to Rivers State, the Nigerian government has announced that it will continue disbursing monthly allocations to the state despite a recent court ruling that sought to halt these payments. This decision comes in light of an ongoing appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara against a Federal High Court judgment that had barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing funds to the state.
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) confirmed that it is adhering to the legal processes surrounding the allocation of federal funds. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, stated, “Since there is a notice of appeal, this has overridden the earlier court judgment. We are committed to obeying court orders, and as such, Rivers State will continue to receive its allocations.”
This announcement follows a ruling by Justice Joyce AbdulMalik on October 30, 2024, which deemed the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Fubara before a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly as unconstitutional. The judge's ruling highlighted that allocations received by the state since January 2024 were based on what she described as an “illegitimate budget,” thus constituting a breach of constitutional provisions.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment on Governor Fubara's appeal challenging this ruling. The three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka, listened to arguments from both sides before deciding to reserve its judgment for a later date. The appeal includes multiple cases related to the legitimacy of the current composition of the Rivers State House of Assembly and its authority over budget approvals.
Governor Fubara's administration has expressed confidence in overturning the lower court's decision. The governor argues that his actions comply with constitutional requirements and asserts that the faction opposing him lacks legitimate authority due to their recent political defections.