Rivers crisis: Court moves to stop Fubara from spending state funds, details emerge

• The crisis rocking the Rivers state assembly has taken a new dimension as Governor Siminalayi Fubara suffered a major setback in court
• This is as the court on Friday dismissed Rivers state government's attempt to halt a lawsuit against Fubara's, deeming the request frivolous and unwarranted
• The suit, filed by a faction of the Rivers House of Assembly loyal to FCT ministers Nyesom Wike, seeks to shut down Fubara's expenditures

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

On Friday, October 25, the bid by Rivers state to halt proceedings in the hearing of a suit seeking to shut down all expenditures of Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed at Federal High Court, Abuja.

Pro-Wike lawmakers defeat Fubara in court on Friday. Photo credit: Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS
Source: Facebook

This is as the judge, Joyce Abdulmalik described the request as frivolous, unwarranted and mischievous, PM News reported.

Court dismissed Fubara's bid to stop legal proceedings

The suit, initiated by Martin Amaewhule and others loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike, sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the commercial banks, including the AGF from honouring any financial instruction issued by Fubara regarding the state’s funds.

But the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Mr. Oko Jumbo, loyal to Fubara, challenged the legitimacy of Amaewhule's position as speaker, arguing that he lacked authority to file the suit due to their defection to the opposition All Progresives Congress (APC).

Fubara's camp sought stay proceedings, pending the hearing and the determination of the appeal already filed before the Appeal Court in the suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule, as 1st and 2nd plaintiffs, had sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and nine others in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24.

But on Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling, described Fubara's camp's request as frivolous, unwarranted, and mischievous, therefore dismissed their suit.

Legit.ng understands that Fubara and Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are at loggerheads over the control of Rivers state. This has led to the division in the state assembly.

Read more about Rivers crisis here:

• Rivers crisis: APC breaks silence on Wike, 27 lawmakers’ defection, “I tried to woo them”
• Wike's faction declares pro-Fubara lawmakers’ seats vacant
• Conflicting rulings: Fubara invokes “God’s judgement” on compromised judges

Wike mentioned those he is fighting with asides Fubara

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Nyesom Wike disclosed that he is currently fighting no less than four political groups across the APC and the PDP.

Wike mentioned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar topped the group, adding that they had seen him as the reason the PDP lost the 2023 presidential election.

The immediate past Governor of Rivers state reiterated that he had no regret in supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election and explained the reason for his action.

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Source: Legit.ng