A special panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the Federal High Court's controversial judgment that ordered the seizure of Rivers State's allocations.
Delivering its ruling on Friday, the Appellate Court declared that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter or issue the directives contained in its judgment.
The case centered on an earlier Federal High Court decision instructing the Central Bank of Nigeria and Rivers State's bankers to withhold funds meant for the state. The ruling was predicated on claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had failed to present the state's 2024 budget to the appropriate House of Assembly.
However, the Court of Appeal highlighted that the involvement of federal agencies in the suit was a tactical move to confer jurisdiction on the Federal High Court. It ruled that the lower court had exceeded its authority and lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the case.
As a result, the Appellate Court struck out the suit and nullified all orders issued by the Federal High Court. In its judgment, the court stated: “The trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The suit is struck out, and all orders made therein are set aside for want of jurisdiction.”
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