TimesNow.com.ng reported that in a judgement delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the High Court temporarily halted financial allocations to Rivers State.
This, however, comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Rivers House of Assembly and Martins Amaewhule, seeking to prevent the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing funds to the state, Vanguard reported.
Emphasizing the serious implications of the court’s decision, Ndarani on Thursday, October 31, in Abuja, stated:
Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier proposed an N800 billion budget for 2024, presented to only four out of 31 members of the House, which the Court of Appeal deemed a severe violation of constitutional provisions.
Speaking still, Ndarani asserted:
Ndarani stressed that governors lack the legal authority to utilize public funds without legislative approval, warning that such actions could be seen as unconstitutional under Section 120 of the Nigerian Constitution and may even lead to impeachment under Section 188, The Punch reported.
He stated:
He further pointed out that the oversight role of the House of Assembly is crucial in ensuring accountability and preventing the misuse of state funds.
Ndarani highlighted the constitutional requirement for legislative authorization of state fund withdrawals, indicating that any deviation from this process signifies a grave governance failure.
Earlier, TimesNow.com.ng reported that the National Democratic and Change Coalition (NDCC) has reacted to the recent judgement of the Federal High Court, preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further disbursing monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government.
The coalition’s president, John Uloko, in a statement cited by TimesNow.com.ng on Thursday, October 32, demanded that Governor Fubara return any funds disbursed and spent without proper legislative appropriation.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
