Atiku Questions Judiciary’s Integrity Following Rivers State Ruling

Atiku raises concerns about judicial integrity after a controversial Rivers State ruling, highlighting his diminishing trust in Nigeria’s judiciary. Learn more about his statement.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the court order preventing financial allocations to Rivers State.

It was reported on Wednesday that a Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from continuing to distribute financial allocations to the Rivers State government.

Judge Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the federation account funds should not be disbursed to the state until a legal appropriation act is passed by a legitimately formed House of Assembly.

The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly filed the suit.

Abdulmalik asserted that Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, made a mistake by presenting the 2024 Appropriation Bill to an assembly consisting of five members which was “not properly constituted.”

READ ALSO: Fubara Responds to Rivers Allocation Order: ‘It’s the Least of My Concerns’

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Wednesday, Atiku cautioned that the judiciary’s actions might “destabilize” Rivers State.

He found it appalling that individuals loyal to the federal government were manipulating things from behind the scenes.

He raised doubts about Abdulmalik’s decision to issue an injunction while the legal challenge from Rivers State was still pending in the court of appeal.

The Court of Appeal ruled last week that the Rivers State budget was illegal, as it had been approved by an incomplete assembly.

The court mandated Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the budget. In response, the Rivers State Government has filed a notice of appeal for the Supreme Court to review the case.

Some elements within the Bola Tinubu administration have obtained a judgment aimed at undermining the Supreme Court.

The statement read: “Prior to the judgment being issued, renowned legal expert Femi Falana (SAN) had warned Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, about a potential compromise following reports that judges in Abuja received house gifts. Unfortunately, Falana’s warning was disregarded.”