BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
The Supreme Court on Friday crippled a substantial part of the financial resources of the Rivers State government by directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney General of the Federation from further releasing funds to the State.
The court resolved a decision in favour of the Martins Amaewhule led Speaker of the house saying such funds should not be released until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted House of Assembly, with Martins Amaewhule as Speaker.
In a unanimous judgment, the court also ordered that Amaewhule and other 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties.
The court also ordered that all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are to resume normal legislative businesses.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, faulted the conduct of Governor Simi Fubara in resorting to acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.
The court set aside an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers State.
It awarded a cost of N50m against Fubara and the Government of Rivers State, to be paid to the Rivers Assembly and Amaewhule.
