The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the Rivers State Government’s request to halt proceedings in a lawsuit aimed at preventing the allocation of funds to the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik presided over the case and dismissed the state’s request after considering arguments from both the state’s counsel and the plaintiffs’ legal representation. The court deemed the request unmeritorious.
In its ruling, the court confirmed its intention to proceed with the hearing of the suit. The action was initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, who sought judicial direction for the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend the local government fund allocations for the state.
Despite the Rivers State Government’s opposition to the suit being heard in Abuja, the court rejected their objection, prompting the state to appeal to the Court of Appeal for intervention. Following this development, the state government filed an appeal, designated CA/ABJ/CV/1197/2024, accompanied by a motion for a stay of proceedings in the Federal High Court until the appeal is resolved.
Further details will be provided as the situation develops.
