A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to halt the expenditures of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
This decision comes pending the hearing of a substantive suit filed by the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and his committee of friends.
Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on the motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24 and presented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sebastien Hon, ordered that all defendants be notified instead.
The matter has been adjourned to August 7 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The defendants include Governor Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice S.C. Amadi, RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired), and the Government of Rivers State.
The suit, filed by former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule on July 15, lists the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) as the first four defendants.
Amaewhule and his committee of friends sought an injunction to prevent these banks from honouring any financial instructions from Governor Fubara.
They also aimed to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing voter registers to the RSIEC ahead of the October 5 local government elections.
However, with the court’s decision, Amaewhule and his committee’s plans have hit a snag.
However, the governor who has also received support from other political interests and bodies have mounted a vigorous opposition against the onslaught.
Amaewhule and his allies have raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the governor’s financial decisions, particularly in the lead-up to the upcoming local government elections.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) is responsible for overseeing the local government elections scheduled for October 5.
Meanwhile, at a session by the pro-Wike faction on Monday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Governments, Ignatius Onwuka, raised concerns about the continued activities of CTC Chairmen despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“Some impostors are parading themselves as caretaker committee chairmen and members in the 23 local governments.
“Mr. Speaker, this worries me because this House amended the law of Local Governments in the state directing that only elected Local Government officials shall be the ones responsible for local government activities,” Onwuka stated.
Onwuka further emphasised, “These impostors are going around the local governments parading themselves and harassing innocent men and women, imposing levies and rates.
“So, for us as a House, we felt we should bring the activities of these impostors to your notice,” he added.
Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of fostering disorder by allowing the caretaker committees to operate.
“From what I’m seeing in this state, the governor is inviting anarchy. The Supreme Court says there should be no caretaker committee and Mr. Governor is still keeping those caretaker committee chairmen collecting levies and rates. Is that not anarchy?” Kagbang asserted.
Following a vote, Amaewhule urged the police to arrest the caretaker committee chairmen wherever they are seen operating.
He also mandated the Chairman of the House Committee on Information to inform the public of the House’s decision.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had previously amended local government laws to ensure that only elected officials could manage local government affairs.
This amendment was in direct response to concerns about the transparency and accountability of appointed caretaker committees.
