The Supreme Court has ruled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation must not release funds to the Rivers State government. This decision reinstates an earlier order that was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

The court also directed the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Martins Amaewhule, to resume their duties without interference.

The Supreme Court criticized the Court of Appeal for canceling the initial order that blocked Rivers State from accessing its monthly allocations.

The issue began when Governor Siminalayi Fubara refused to re-present the 2024 budget to the House of Assembly, which includes 27 lawmakers who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The apex court ruled that the Federal High Court in Abuja had the authority to handle the case filed by the lawmakers. It also confirmed that the 27 lawmakers are still legally part of the Rivers Assembly until their status is officially determined.

Governor Fubara had argued that since the lawmakers had defected, he had to present the budget to the remaining five lawmakers. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this claim, stating that the doctrine of necessity cannot be used to justify illegal actions.

“This wrong view influenced it to hold that the subject matter was not within the power of the Federal High Court,” the Supreme Court noted, stressing that what was at the center of the case was the refusal of governor Fubara to obey a subsisting court order mandating him to present the Appropriation Bill to the valid Assembly.

The court accused Governor Fubara of destabilizing the government due to his fear of impeachment. As a result, the Supreme Court ordered him to pay N5 million in legal costs.

This ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.