Court stops CBN from releasing allocation to Rivers
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria from further releasing monthly financial allocations to Rivers State Government. The presiding judge held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before a four -member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision. She described the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Fubara as a constitutional somersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue. Justice Abdulmalik also held that Fubara’s action in implementing an unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect. She proceeded to restrain the CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Rivers Political Crisis: Fubara’s Impeachment Imminent – Tonye Cole
Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 Rivers State gubernatorial election expresses concerns about the potential impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Mr. hinges his concern about impeachment as the most probable outcome of the ongoing political crisis in the state. Cole’s warnings come after a recent Court of Appeal ruling upheld a Federal High Court decision that invalidated the 2024 budget presentation and approval for Rivers State. According to Cole, this ruling places Fubara in a precarious position that threatens the stability of his administration. He pointed out that by having to present the budget again, the Assembly led by Amaewhule is recognized as the legitimate body, increasing the likelihood of impeachment proceedings against Fubara. Cole highlighted the political fragmentation in Rivers, where the governor belongs to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while the Assembly is predominantly APC, and local government structures are led by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APP). This situation has created a complex political landscape that is adversely affecting governance and development in the region. He criticized the ongoing political battles, stating that the residents of Rivers are the real victims of this conflict, with essential developments stalled. Cole argued that if the interests of the people were prioritized, the state would not be facing such turmoil. The ongoing disputes among political factions have overshadowed the needs of ordinary citizens, leaving many without the benefits of governance.
Violence Erupts in Rivers State as Protesters Set Local Government Secretariat Ablaze
On Monday, unrest unfolded in Bori, Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, leaving one person feared dead after gunfire was reported. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, though it coincided with widespread protests across several LGAs, following a police directive to reopen all 23 council secretariats that had been closed since July. In Ikwerre LGA, demonstrators stormed the council headquarters in Isiokpo, setting a section of the building on fire, forcing staff and the newly appointed chairman to abandon the premises. Although authorities intervened to control the situation and extinguish the flames, some parts of the building sustained damage. In Emuoha LGA, protesters prevented the newly sworn-in chairman from entering the council headquarters. They voiced opposition to the election results, claiming the Action Peoples Party’s candidate was not popular enough to win. The demonstrators blocked access to the administrative building, insisting on the reinstatement of the previous chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, whose tenure, they argued, was extended by the state House of Assembly. Earlier in the day, violence also broke out in Eleme LGA, where protesters set the secretariat on fire, destroying several structures and vehicles, including a police car. The police responded but were still assessing the extent of the damage.