Supreme Court Halts CBN From Releasing Rivers Allocations, Orders Amaewhule-Led Lawmakers to Resume Sitting

 In a significant legal ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has issued an order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disbursing the statutory allocations of Rivers State until further notice. The decision comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the state, which has seen a power struggle between rival factions within the State House of Assembly.

The ruling, delivered by a panel of justices, also mandates that lawmakers loyal to Martins Amaewhule, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, must resume legislative duties without hindrance. This directive follows the political face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading to a split in the legislative body.

The court’s decision underscores the deepening crisis in the state, which has witnessed legal battles, political maneuvering, and heightened tensions over governance and control of resources. Legal analysts suggest that the Supreme Court’s intervention could either stabilize the situation or further escalate tensions, depending on the reactions from the affected parties.

As the legal battle continues, stakeholders in Rivers State are closely monitoring developments, particularly regarding the financial management of the state and the power dynamics within its legislative arm.