By Mark Lenu
The Civil Society Organisation in Rivers State has condemned the halting of federal allocation meant for Rivers State by a federal high court sitting in Abuja, describing it as a direct attack on the people of the state. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Fubara before a four-member Rivers State House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.
She described Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January as nothing short of a constitutional aberration that must not be allowed. Justice Abdulmalik also held that Fubara’s action in implementing an unlawful budget stood as a gross violation of the 1999 constitution he swore to protect.
She proceeded to restrain the CBN, Accountant-General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara access to money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
The state Chairman of CSO, Comrade Ene-faa Georgewill told our correspondent that the decision of the court is not welcomed, adding that the state CSO is in full support of the move made by the Fubara-led state government to appeal the ruling.
“We, as a civil society organization, view the court judgment as a direct attack on the people of Rivers State. The aim of the judgment is to strip funds from the state government in order to undermine development.
“The judgment only serves the interest of few political gladiators at the expense of the people of the state. We support the move made by the governor to appeal it,” he said.
The state CSO chair further reminded the federal government that Rivers State is where the oil money that is sustaining the country is coming from, insisting that halting allocation meant for the state is political.
