Releasing Blocked Allocations to Rivers Administrator Is Justified – Fagbemi

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi defends the decision to release previously blocked allocations to the Rivers State sole administrator, citing legal justification.

Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), stated that it would be appropriate for the Federal Government to release the withheld monthly allocations to Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.), who has been newly sworn in as Sole Administrator for Rivers State.

Speaking with State House correspondents at the Villa on Wednesday, the justice minister stated that an unusual situation had developed in the oil-rich state, which might lead to reconsidering and possibly overruling the initial seizure of allocations.

Fagbemi mentioned that an unusual situation has developed in Rivers State. He suggested that when the administrator arrives, they might ask for these funds. In his opinion, releasing the funds would be appropriate because this extraordinary circumstance deviates from normal conditions.

On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a series of rulings preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from disbursing funds to Siminalayi Fubara’s administration. The apex court cited blatant non-compliance with its orders as grounds for this action.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. He suspended Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu along with the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.

Tinubu based his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, explaining that he cannot stand by and watch the political situation in Rivers worsen without intervening.

The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been firmly opposed and criticized by numerous prominent Nigerians, legal experts, and groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana; the Labour Party (LP); the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the Nigerian Bar Association; Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others.

Nevertheless, the emergency rule has received praise from pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers who were suspended. They have accused Fubara of violating the supreme court’s decision regarding the state’s political situation.