The Supreme Court has ruled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation should halt the disbursement of funds to Rivers State until a legally approved budget is passed by the state House of Assembly.
According to a report by Arise News on February 28, 2025, the Apex Court also reinstated Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers, who had been prevented from performing their legislative duties. The court emphasized that their removal was unlawful and that the state had been operating without a functional legislature.
The ruling comes amid an ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. The court noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, were driven by fear of impeachment rather than legal justification. It condemned any attempts to suppress the legislature, stating that such actions violated democratic principles.
In the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim declared that the exclusion of the lawmakers had left Rivers State without a properly constituted government. He also criticized the presentation of the 2024 budget to just four members of the Assembly, stressing that this number did not meet the required quorum for legislative proceedings. The court further stated that conducting legislative business in secrecy was unacceptable.
With this decision, Rivers State faces financial restrictions, as government funds will remain inaccessible until the state legislature functions in line with the law. The ruling highlights the Supreme Court’s stance on upholding constitutional order and ensuring that all government processes follow due process.
Moving forward, the Rivers State House of Assembly is expected to reconvene and pass a valid budget to restore normal governance. The court’s verdict reinforces the importance of an independent legislature and serves as a warning against executive overreach.
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