Opposition Lawmakers Describe Court Order Halting Rivers State Allocation As “Judicial Rascality”

Opposition lawmakers have strongly criticized the recent Federal High Court judgment that ordered the suspension of monthly federal allocations to Rivers State, describing it as “judicial rascality.”

The ruling, issued on Wednesday by Justice Abdulmalik Joyce in Abuja, has sparked controversy as it mandates the Federal Government to withhold Rivers State’s statutory funds.

In a statement signed by Opposition Coalition spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the lawmakers accused the Federal High Court of overstepping its bounds to serve what they termed “the undemocratic interests” of individuals loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

They argued that the ruling undermines the constitutional rights of Rivers citizens and interferes with pending cases at the Appeal Court and Supreme Court, which are expected to determine the legitimacy of confident sacked pro-Wike lawmakers who had decamped.

The coalition maintained that the move to withhold statutory funds disregards the autonomy of Rivers State, prioritizing political interests over justice.

The opposition urged for restraint and a review of the court’s decision, stressing that judicial actions should protect the constitutional rights of all Nigerians rather than serve political interests.

The statement read, “How can a judge who knows very well that the decamped lawmakers have lost their seats, still go ahead to order for the allocation to be seized in favour of those who have lost their seat while the issues are pending at different courts on whether they should be parading as lawmakers.

“You want to use the Federal High Court to undermine democracy and constitutional governance. The issue of legality of their decampment is still in court and you are rushing to order that budget be presented to them as who?

“How can you be aware that all the subject matters are before the Appeal Court and Supreme Court and you still went ahead to attempt to do harm and damage to innocent tax paying people of Rivers who did nothing.

“The Supreme Court have ruled on the sanctity of the LGA and State allocation as a sovereign wealth of the people that can’t be seized as such funds are constitutional and can only be spent on the authority of that State or LGA.

“If the head of the state or LGA is not spending it well or spending it without necessary compliance with laid down regulations, the constitution gives you power to impeach such officer, if you have the numbers and legitimacy.

“So because the pro-Wike group know they have lost the legitimacy to be called lawmakers or perform legislative functions, they now rushed to court to use the court to attempt to carry out a financial coup against the Rivers people.

“So after generating oil revenue from the backyard of Rivers People, other states will take their own share home and the people that produced the revenue will starve to death.

“The High Court wants to please the Pro Wike Group , and you think this will bring peace to Niger Delta? The allocation is not a political fund or money meant for Governor Fubara but official revenue of the entire people that covers their economic, health, security and welfare needs.

“The pro-Wike group and the Federal High Court Abuja have shown that they are anarchist and anti-people and warming up to ignite anger and confusion that can consume the current democratic settings like the shameful criss of the 60s and 80s.

“The President is now going to be at the receiving end if anything happens to the funds of people of Rivers State. President Tinubu should remember that his government in Lagos secured the Supreme Court judgement during his fight with Obasanjo, which barred the seizure of LGA allocation.

“The opposition not only condemn the judgement which rubbished the Supreme Court exiting judgement that barrs the federal government or any organ of the federal government from seizing any State or LGA allocation but will do everything legally and humanly possible to ensure that the controversial ruling is quashed.

“Rivers State is the treasure base of the nation and you can’t embark on a journey to starve the people and think peace can be maintained in such an atmosphere of anarchy.

“Opposition is hopeful that upper courts will quash and throw into the Judicial dustbin these pro-Wike judgments which have become a huge embarrassment to the judiciary today and increased our people’s loss of confidence in the judiciary.”