Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has faulted the release of withheld federation allocation funds to Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers.
In a post published via X on Monday, Obi said the move raises “serious moral questions”.
BACKGROUND
In February, the supreme court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
The federal high court had stopped the release of funds to Rivers after Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor of the state, failed to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the south-south state, citing the prolonged political crisis.
The president suspended Fubara, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all house of assembly members, for six months.
Tinubu also appointed Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers.
Days later, the senate and the house of representatives controversially approved Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in Rivers state.
On March 21, Ibas told members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Port Harcourt that the withheld funds have been released.
‘FG DISOBEYING SUPREME COURT ORDER’
In a statement on his X page, Obi said the decision to release the withheld funds to the sole administrator does not align with the judgment of the supreme court.
The ex-presidential candidate said the supreme court ruled that the withheld funds should be released to the state after a properly constituted house of assembly passes the appropriation bill.
“What we are witnessing in Rivers State is a brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles,” Obi said.
“The decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country.
“The Supreme Court had explicitly barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passes a valid Appropriation Act.
“Yet, we see a situation where this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral intentions, and questions of what is happening in Rivers State.
“By disregarding the judgment of the Supreme Court, those involved are setting a dangerous precedent.
“The CBN and AGF, institutions meant to uphold the law, should not be complicit in this disregard for our judiciary.
“We cannot build a nation where those who swore oaths to uphold our constitution and obey the laws are doing the opposite.
“This is about more than just Rivers State; it is about protecting the very fabric of our democracy, and our existence as a nation.”(The Cable)
