Outcry, condemnation trail court ruling halting Rivers allocations

The recent Federal High Court ruling that halted allocations to Rivers State has sparked a wave of reactions, with the state government swiftly appealing the decision.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the judgment, which he described as a violation of constitutional rights.

Rivers State’s Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, voiced optimism, stating, “We are not panicked and there is no cause for alarm.”

He criticized the ruling as unfairly dismissive of 23 council chairmen and noted the judge’s refusal to allow the state to change its legal representation.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s ruling, which branded Fubara’s budgetary actions as unconstitutional, declared that his administration had overstepped its bounds by operating under a budget not sanctioned by a legitimate House of Assembly.

The judgment further mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions to cease funding until a valid budget was presented.

While the state government is pursuing legal avenues, reactions from various quarters have been intense.

Supporters of the ruling party, particularly factions loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, celebrated the judgment as a victory for the rule of law. Chibuike Ikenga, spokesperson for the Okocha-led All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee, stated, “What the court has done is enhancing compliance and obedience to the rule of law.”

READ ALSO: RIVERS CRISIS: ‘Something will happen if Fubara is impeached’, Asari-Dokubo warns

Conversely, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a member of the Rivers State Elders Council, condemned the judiciary’s integrity, asserting that the judge’s conduct undermined public trust. He remarked, “The judiciary has a very big task to redeem its image because the judiciary has battered itself to the point that people no longer have confidence in it.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticized the ruling, arguing that it exacerbates political tensions and urged the judiciary to restore its credibility. He expressed concern about the potential economic fallout for Rivers State, emphasizing that the area accounts for a significant portion of Nigeria’s oil assets.

On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for calm, highlighting the need for all parties involved to prioritize governance and the welfare of the people over political rivalries. PDP National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor stated, “No state or arm of government should be made to suffer for the actions of one man.”

Opposition lawmakers labeled the judgment “judicial rascality,” claiming it favored a discredited faction of the House of Assembly. Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the opposition lawmakers, decried the court’s intervention in a matter still pending in higher courts, questioning the legitimacy of the ruling and the ongoing power struggles.

Legal opinions, however, remain divided, with some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) expressing concern over the potential implications for governance in Rivers State. Paul Obi (SAN) noted, “There is no basis for stopping the payment of the allocation,” while Sam Erugo emphasized the seriousness of the court’s ruling and its impact on state governance.

Civil society organizations have also weighed in, with Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership supporting the court’s decision as necessary to uphold constitutional integrity. Meanwhile, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, warned against politicizing the judiciary, urging a separation of judicial processes from political maneuvering.

As the situation unfolds, stakeholders across the political spectrum continue to voice their concerns, revealing deep divisions and highlighting the complex interplay of law, governance, and political rivalry in Rivers State.

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