Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the request by the Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit seeking to stop the allocation of funds to all the local government areas of Rivers State.
The Judge held that the request by the Rivers State Government was frivolous.
The fractional Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Martin Amaewhule, had brought the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) before the court, praying for the court to withhold fund allocations to the Rivers State local governments. The Rivers State Government objected to the hearing of the suit in Abuja but was turned down by the court.
This decision prompted the state government to approach the Court of Appeal to intervene in the matter. The state government filed an appeal and a motion seeking the Federal High Court to stay proceedings until its appeal is determined.
However, after taking arguments from Counsel to the State Government, Joseph Daudu, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the request to stay proceedings on the ground that it was unmeritorious and mischievous. The court insisted on proceeding with the hearing of the suit.