Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the recent Federal High Court ruling that barred the Federal Government from releasing further monthly allocations to Rivers State.
Atiku questioned the timing of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s order, given that Rivers State had already challenged the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the legality of its 2024 budget.
Atiku’s statement, released through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, highlighted that the Court of Appeal had declared the Rivers State budget illegal due to its passage by an inchoate Assembly.
The court ordered Governor Fubara to present the budget afresh, and the Rivers State Government has since filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court.
Atiku alleged that elements within the Bola Tinubu administration had procured the judgment to undermine the Supreme Court.
He also referenced a warning by legal luminary Femi Falana, SAN, about possible compromise after judges in Abuja received house gifts.
Atiku commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for summoning judges handling Rivers State cases.
He expressed concerns about Nigeria’s descent into chaos due to conflicting court orders and alleged inducement of judges.
Read Also: Rivers State Government Challenges Federal High Court Ruling
Atiku emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence in the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, warning that foreign investors will avoid Nigeria if judgments can be bought by the highest bidder.
In light of Rivers State’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s oil assets and the country’s economic crisis, Atiku urged Tinubu to prioritize Nigeria’s interest over his 2027 ambition.
He said:
“Last week, the Court of Appeal declared that the Rivers State budget was illegal because it was passed by an inchoate Assembly. The court ordered Governor Fubara to present the budget afresh.
“The Rivers State Government has already filed a notice of appeal, so that the Supreme Court can hear the matter. However, some elements in the Bola Tinubu administration have procured a judgment intended to undermine the Supreme Court.
“Even before the judgment was delivered, legal luminary, Femi Falana, SAN, had alerted the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho of possible compromise after house gifts had been presented to judges in Abuja. Sadly, Falana’s warning was ignored.
“From the emirship tussle in Kano State to the Rivers imbroglio where courts are going as far as preventing elections from holding, taking Nigeria back to the dark days of June 12, 1993, where polls were annulled.
“Sadly, under the leadership of those who claim to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy, the country is descending into chaos with conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction flying all over the place while judges are being induced in the name of empowerment and provision of houses.
“The result is that Nigerians are gradually losing confidence in an institution which prides itself as the last hope of the common man.
“Foreign investors will avoid any place where judgments can be bought by the highest bidder.
“Nigeria should not descend to the Hobessian state of nature where life is short, nasty and brutish, where citizens opt for self-help.
“Rivers State accounts for almost 25 percent of Nigeria’s oil assets. For a country facing an economic crisis worsened by vandalism and banditry, Tinubu should put his 2027 ambition aside and put Nigeria’s interest first.”
