The Appeal Court in Abuja has annulled all previous court orders restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government.
In a ruling delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, the court stated that the earlier decision by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which blocked the release of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the state, was unconstitutional. The court also emphasized that the issue did not fall within the jurisdiction of the lower court.
This decision follows an earlier ruling in October where Justice Abdulmalik had argued that the Rivers State Government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, had breached constitutional provisions regarding the disbursement of state funds. Justice Abdulmalik had also ordered banks and federal institutions, including Zenith and Access Bank, to restrict the governor’s access to state funds.
The Appeal Court’s latest judgment allows Rivers State to continue accessing the funds it is entitled to, thereby upholding the federal structure of the Nigerian government and ensuring the proper functioning of the state’s financial operations.
