By Emeka Amaefula
POLITICAL DRAMA GREETS COURT JUDGEMENT ON RIVERS STATE FAAC DISBURSEMENT LATEST
The suspense and brewing war on compliance of Court judgment over withholding of monthly FAAC disbursement got recently deflated as Federal Government’s relevant agencies have come out to state categorically real reasons why Rivers state Government will continue to receive its monthly allocation from Federal Sources.
It was on Friday 22nd of november 2024 when Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Office of The Accountant General of the Federation-OAGF took a swerve on the lingering Court proceedings with judgment in one of plethora of court cases now domiciled in the lower, appellate Court judicial Divisions from Rivers state to Federal Capital Territory-FCT Abuja. He stated that the Government will respect court decisions involving all the matters now pending in several court jurisdictions.
According to him, “Since there is a notice of appeal, the notice of appeal has overridden the earlier court judgment. So far, it is a court order that we will obey; if there is a notice of appeal, Rivers will be paid.” His reaction is sequel to the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who issued a ruling on October 30th, 2024 that barred the Federal Government and her numerous agencies including Central bank of Nigeria, CBN from disbursing monthly allocations to Rivers State. The decision restricted Rivers state’s access to funds in the consolidated revenue account.This case was instituted by 27 factional lawmakers of Rivers state House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Chike Amaewhule filed a lawsuit with reference FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24.While Rivers state Gov. Siminalyi Fubara was at Prayer and thanksgiving session at Alfred Diete-Spiff Multipurpose Sports Complex, celebrating one year remembrance of attempted impeachment saga by Martins Amaewhule led lawmakers, he announced that the state Government will continue to meet her financial obligations irrespective of the news filtering the arena concerning the Court’s stoppage of FAAC monthly allocation to Rivers state.
The Governor, it was gathered, instructed the legal team led by Yusuf Ali SAN, to appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Thus, the Appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1303/2024, is aimed to nullify the orders issued by Justice Abdulmalik. Hence, a three-member appellate panel led by Justice Hamma Barka heard the governor’s plea and consolidated five related appeals, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1277/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1196/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1287/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1293/24, and CA/ABJ/CV/1360/2024.
From the statement from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation there are other appellants in the case which include the Rivers State Government, the Accountant-General of Rivers State, and Zenith Bank Plc. Meanwhile the case remains vital regarding judicial notification and consideration as Rivers state Government will continue to receive her monthly FAAC disbursement. Rivers state Government according to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara receives from Revenue consultants monthly internally Generated Revenue of about N27B.
———————-Emeka Amaefula——-+234(0)8111813069————–
