A coalition of opposition lawmakers have rejected the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered the seizure of statutory allocations to the Rivers State Government on Wednesday.
Describing the ruling by Justice Abdulmalik Joyce as the ‘Height of judicial rascality,’ the lawmakers said the judgment was ill-conceived given that the issues surrounding 27 lawmakers loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike who decamped to the All Progressives Congress were still pending at the Appeal and Supreme Courts.
The lawmakers described the judgment as a legal coup against the likely outcome of pending appeals at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on the same subject matter.
They added that it was an attempt to unleash constitutional anarchy against a federating state and independent arm of government with a responsibility to the people.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the judgment as clear evidence that the Federal High Court has gone out of control and is willing to do the bidding of the pro-Wike group at the expense of the Rivers people.
Ugochinyere said, “How can a judge who knows very well that the decamped lawmakers have lost their seats, still go ahead to order for the allocation to be seized in favour of those who have lost their seats while the issues are pending at different courts on whether they should be parading as lawmakers.
“You want to use the Federal High Court to undermine democracy and constitutional governance. The issue of legality of their decampment is still in court and you are rushing to order that budget be presented to them as who?”
They added that the decision of Justice Abdulmalik Joyce and Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho to proceed with the case “despite a pending petition against the clear evidence of bias against them shows that there is more to the case than meets the ordinary eye.”
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State also said, “How can you be aware that all the subject matters are before the Appeal Court and Supreme Court and you still went ahead to attempt to do harm and damage to innocent tax paying people of Rivers who did nothing?
“The Supreme Court has ruled on the sanctity of the Local Government Areas and state allocation as a sovereign wealth of the people that can’t be seized as such funds are constitutional and can only be spent on the authority of that State or local government. If the head of the state or LGA is not spending it well or spending it without necessary compliance with laid down regulations, the constitution gives you the power to impeach such officer, if you have the numbers and legitimacy.
“So because the pro-Wike group know they have lost the legitimacy to be called lawmakers or perform legislative functions, they now rushed to court to use the court to attempt to carry out a financial coup against the Rivers people. After generating oil revenue from the backyard of Rivers people, other states will take their own share home and the people that produced the revenue will starve to death because the Federal High Court wants to please the pro-Wike group.
“Do you think this will bring peace to Niger Delta? The allocation is not a political fund or money meant for Gov Siminalayi Fubara but official revenue of the entire people that cover their economic, health, security and welfare needs.”
He added, “That said, the lawmakers called on Rivers people to come out in their numbers to protest against the judgment.
“The opposition lawmakers call on Rivers people, workers and citizens to mobilise for a day of protest against the ongoing agenda to use the Federal High Court Abuja and selected judges to create a constitutional crisis in Rivers State.”
(PUNCH)
