A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request by Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit seeking to stop allocation of funds to all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State.
In a ruling on Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the application for stay made by lawyer to the Government of Rivers State, Gordy Uche (SAN) was frivolous, vexatious, unwarranted and mischievous.
The ruling was given during Friday’s proceedings in a suit, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1197/2024 by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Honourable Martin Amaewhule.
The Rivers Government had sought a stay of proceedings in the case, claiming to be challenging the court’s jurisdiction before the Court of Appeal.
The plaintiffs are seeking among others, to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold financial allocation to LGAS in Rivers State.
Justice James Omotosho (also of the Federal High Court) had in an earlier judgment judgment, faulted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for presenting the state’s 2024 Appropriation Bill before a minority four-member alegislative house led by Edison Ehie.
Justice Abdulmalik also rejected the request by the Accountant General of Rivers, asking her to refuse herself from the case on grounds of alleged bias.
Represented by Tuturu Edem (SAN) the Rivers AG complained about way the judge had conducted proceedings in the case, claiming it was strange and unbelievable.
Other defendants in the case, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aligned with the Rivers AG, a position the plaintiffs faulted.
In a subsequent ruling, Justice Abdulmalik refused to recuse herself from the case, as demanded by the defendants, insisting that she was not biased as alleged by the defendants.
The judge equally declined the defendants’ application that she hands off the case and allow the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to take over the case.
