In a verdict announced on Friday, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop providing financial support to the administration of Rivers State until the state House of Assembly is duly constituted in line with the 1999 Constitution.

The court confirmed the legitimacy of the Assembly members led by Martins Amaewhule, declaring them valid representatives of the House. Additionally, the court instructed all Assembly members to reconvene for sessions.

The group under the leadership of Amaewhule supports Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Previously, the Federal High Court had rendered a similar decision, prohibiting the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation from disbursing statutory monthly allocations to the state. Any individuals claiming to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by anyone other than Martins Amaewhule, are deemed invalid, and their actions are considered null and void.

Judge Agim stated that allowing only four out of the 32 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to function meant the governor was operating with merely 12.5% of the Assembly, which is unlawful. He characterized this as an act of indiscipline that borders on the excessive exercise of power, describing it as a farce that has no place in a democratic system, referencing the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.

The court further asserted that the governor’s apprehension regarding impeachment does not warrant the undermining of a legitimate democratic institution. Consequently, the Supreme Court ordered the CBN and the Accountant-General of the Federation to immediately suspend all financial allocations, revenues, and funds to the Rivers State government until a valid budget is submitted and approved by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. The court also imposed a cost of N5 million against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.