A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request by the Rivers State Government to halt proceedings in a lawsuit aimed at stopping fund allocation to Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State.

The development is the latest in the ongoing political crisis in the state, which has resulted in factions within the state legislature.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara is facing opposition from a faction led by Martin Amaewhule, backed by former governor Nyesom Wike, while another faction supports Fubara, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

On Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik deemed the stay application filed by Rivers State’s lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), as “frivolous, vexatious, unwarranted, and mischievous.”

This ruling was made during proceedings in the suit CA/ABJ/CV/1197/2024, filed by the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Amaewhule.

The plaintiffs seek to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold financial allocation to LGAs in Rivers State.

The Rivers Government had requested a stay, claiming to challenge the court’s jurisdiction before the Court of Appeal.

More to follow…