Victor EzejaCEO of TAF Africa and founder of Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle, has called on the judiciary to maintain its sanctity avoid being used to manipulate the process of governance in Rivers State.
Epelle made the call why reacting to a Federal High Court judgment which retrained the Central Bank of Nigeria from further releasing allocations from the federation account to Rivers State.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelJustice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Abuja Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was a unconstitutional.
Justice Abdulmalik also held that going ahead to implement the budget was a gross violation of the 1999 constitution as amended, adding that Governor Fubara’s receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January is illegal and must not be allowed.
She therefore ordered CBN, Accountant-General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank to stop allowing Fubara access to money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Reactions have continued to trail the judgment as some described it as a latest blow to Fubara in the ongoing feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is currently the Federal Capital Territory minister.
READ ALSO: I’m Not Distracted By Rivers Crisis – Wike
Mr Epelle, who was a guest on Channels Television breakfast show, Morning Brief, on Thursday, stated that the ruling has wide ranging implications on finance, politics and legal precedent.
He argued that the ruling violates the provisions of the 1999 constitution. “I don’t think that a court has a right to stop the allocation on flimsy excuses. If they want to make a point, they should stop the four-man State Assembly from operating. They can stop the governor from implementing the budget but they cannot stop the government of Rivers State from receiving allocations,” Epelle further argued.
H emphasised that ordinary people of Rivers State are the ones suffering as a result of the crisis caused by personal interests of Wike and Fubara. He said the interest of the entire state is over and above their personal interests.
Epelle urged President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order, adding that the FCT minister must not be allowed to continue to flex muscles for his selfish political interest at the expense of the lives of the citizens of the state.
“Unfortunately, the judiciary has allowed herself to be manipulated by these individuals which makes nonsense of the judicial system and the democracy at large,” Epelle stated.
“How will the likes of Wike and his cohorts continue to muscle the lives of the people of Rivers State for their political gain. This nonsense must stop and the judiciary must stop being used to manipulate this process.”
He called for dialogue among all political stakeholders in the state for the restoration of peace and stability in the state.
The Rivers State Government has stated that the judgment will be challenged at the Court of Appeal.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
