The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately stop releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, declared that the order will remain in force until Governor Siminalayi Fubara ceases all unlawful and unconstitutional activities. Specifically, the court ruled that no funds should be disbursed to the state until a legally enacted Appropriation Law is passed under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule as Speaker.
Additionally, the apex court directed the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, to resume legislative functions immediately.
In its unanimous verdict, the five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji, nullified all actions taken by Governor Fubara, deeming them illegal. The court condemned the governor for demolishing the House of Assembly complex, describing it as a criminal act intended to prevent lawmakers from carrying out their duties.
Justice Agim further ordered that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House, who were unlawfully reassigned, must be reinstated alongside other assembly staff. The court also criticized Governor Fubara for attempting to govern with only four out of the 32 House members, under what it described as an unfounded fear of impeachment.
According to the justices, Fubara’s actions effectively crippled the legislature and exploited his constitutional immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to undermine the rule of law.
The Supreme Court also upheld earlier rulings by the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, both of which declared the actions against the 27 lawmakers illegal.
As part of the judgment, the court imposed a ₦10 million fine on Governor Fubara, to be paid to the House of Assembly and the 27 legislators who sued him.
A previous ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court had already declared that the governor’s receipt and disbursement of state funds since January 2023 was unconstitutional. The court had ruled that the presentation and implementation of the 2024 budget—which Fubara submitted before just four lawmakers—was a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Consequently, the Federal High Court had also barred the CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from allowing the Rivers State Government to access funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.