Fubara wins as Appeal Court sets aside order restraining release of funds to Rivers

It was a huge victory for Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, on Friday, as the Appeal Court in Abuja set aside all orders restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing funds to the state government.
The three-member panel, presided by Justice Hamman Barka, held that the subject matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court relating to the revenue of the state.
While allowing the appeal of the Rivers State Government, the appellate court also set aside all the orders made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, stating that it was unconstitutional for her to make orders restricting Rivers State government to receive funds due to the state from its consolidated revenue fund.
The appellate court held that the lower court overreached itself and didn’t have the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
In October, Justice Abdulmalik of the Abuja Federal High Court held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Fubara was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.