JUST IN: Constitutional Crisis: Court Blocks Fubara’s Access to State Funds, Calls Rivers Budget an ‘Aberration’

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to halt monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government, citing a breach of constitutional procedure. This ruling followed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to only four members of the Rivers House of Assembly, which Justice Abdulmalik deemed an affront to constitutional requirements. She labeled the governor’s ongoing use of monthly funds under this budget as a “constitutional somersault,” highlighting violations of the 1999 Constitution. The judge also barred the CBN, the Accountant General, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank from granting Fubara access to funds from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.