Reacting to the ruling, Odinkalu, a law professor and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), faulted the decision, describing it as “tyranny of the #Outlaw”.
Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights activist and lawyer, has faulted the Federal High Court judgement barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government until a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.
SaharaReporters reported earlier on Wednesday that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the decision in response to a suit filed by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to a former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and led by Martins Amaewhule.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the decision by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the Rivers State’s 2024 Appropriation Bill to a four-member Assembly, that was not properly constituted, should not be allowed to stand.
The court order essentially put a hold on any further funding to the Rivers State Government until the necessary legislative steps are taken.
This means that the state’s financial activities will be on hold until the House of Assembly passes a lawful appropriation act.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had upheld Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, dismissing Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal. This decision comes despite the pro-Wike lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which would typically result in losing their seats.
However, reacting to the ruling, Odinkalu, a law professor and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), faulted the decision, describing it as “tyranny of the #Outlaw”.
Odinkalu took to his X handle to voice his concerns, noting that the judgement overruled the decision of the Supreme Court on a similar case about 20 years ago when the incumbent President Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State.
(Sahara Reporters)
