The Supreme Court has re-enacted a 2024 judgment of a Federal High Court, which restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing funds from the federation accounts to the Government of Rivers State.
The apex court took the decision after it set aside a judgment of the Court of Appeal, which earlier nullified the trial court judgment on grounds of lack of jurisdiction.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court held that the lower court erred in law when it came to the conclusion that the Federal High Court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit seeking to restrain the release of funds to the Government of Rivers State led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to Agim, the case of the appellant was mainly to enforce the earlier judgment of Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court, which had, in January 2024, ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the 2024 appropriation of the Rivers State before the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
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Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara
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