Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the Rivers State Government’s request to halt proceedings in a case aimed at stopping the allocation of funds to all local government areas within Rivers State.
The judge deemed the Rivers State Government’s request as lacking merit.
The suit, initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Hon. Martin Amaewhule, petitions the court to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold fund allocations to the state’s local governments.
The Rivers State Government initially contested the suit’s hearing location in Abuja, but this objection was dismissed by the court, prompting the state to approach the Court of Appeal for intervention.
The state also filed an appeal alongside a motion requesting the Federal High Court to pause proceedings pending the appeal’s resolution.
After hearing arguments from the state’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, Justice Abdulmalik rejected the stay request, describing it as lacking validity and being disruptive.
The court affirmed its decision to proceed with the suit’s hearing.