In a major ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s receipt and management of monthly allocations since January 2024 had breached constitutional provisions, which she deemed “an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.”

The court’s decision follows the controversial presentation of Rivers State’s 2024 budget by Governor Fubara to a limited assembly of four members, which Justice Abdulmalik described as a “gross violation” of the Nigerian Constitution. As a result, the judge has also restricted the CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from providing the governor with further access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

This decision aligns with a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which upheld a previous High Court judgment that nullified the N800 billion budget passed by five pro-Fubara lawmakers. The appellate court dismissed Fubara’s appeal, citing a lack of merit and emphasizing that the governor had failed to contest the original trial. It further criticized the situation in the Rivers House of Assembly, describing it as “executive dictatorship” and a severe departure from the principles of rule of law.

The nullified budget, initially presented by Fubara in December 2023 to five members of the 30-member assembly, had been labeled as the “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.” Justice Abdulmalik has since mandated that the governor re-present the budget to a fully constituted House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule.

Justice Omotosho, who had earlier invalidated the 2024 budget, reinforced the stance that the governor must comply with constitutional provisions, release all funds due to the Rivers House of Assembly, and refrain from interfering in its activities.