The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State Government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling on Wednesday, declared the presentation of the 2024 budget by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly as an affront to the constitutional provision.

She held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Consequently, the court restrained the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated revenue account.

The judgment followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, brought before the court by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs had approached the court, praying it to withhold all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers State.

Noting that Governor Fubara had continued to make unauthorised withdrawals from the consolidated revenues funds of Rivers state, in breach of section 120 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, they contended that the Governor had yet to comply with the court order that directed him to represent the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They had argued that the high court had in a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, recognised Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and invalidated the 2024 budget proposal that was presented before the four-member faction of the Assembly, led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo.

They further contended that the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision that was in their favour.

The FCT Police Command says it has arrested the lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Alexander Ikwechegh for allegedly assaulting a Bolt driver identified as Mr. Stephen Abuwatseya and making derogatory comment on the office of the Inspector General of Police.

A statement on Monday by the Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Command received a report at the Maitama Divisional Headquarters regarding an incident involving Mr. Abuwatseya and Hon. Alexander Ikwechegh.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that Mr. Abuwatseya was delivering a package to Hon. Ikwegh when a dispute arose concerning the method of delivery. During this altercation, Mr. Abuwatseya was reportedly physically assaulted.

“The FCT Police Command expresses grave concern over Hon. Ikwechegh’s dismissive attitude toward the office of the Inspector General of Police following the incident.

“After allegedly slapping the victim, he reportedly remarked with contempt, “You can go ahead and call the Inspector General of Police,” demonstrating a troubling disregard for the authority of law enforcement.

“Currently, the suspect is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning,” the FCT police image maker said.

She added that the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has mandated a thorough investigation into the matter while assuring of the Command’s commitment to conducting an impartial investigation and ensuring justice in all cases.

Police said appropriate legal action will be taken upon completion of the investigation.

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has accused President Bola Tinubu, of betraying him after helping him (Tinubu) to emerge president in the 2023 elections.

Dokubo made the accusation in a viral video shared on social media on Saturday, lamenting how he emptied his bank accounts to canvas votes for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, only for the latter to abandon him and his Ijaw people.

The former warlord, however, vowed to form an alliance with the North ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I apologise to our fathers because they were not wrong in allying with the North, and as young men, we will now start that same alliance,” he said in the video.

“From today, I will work and form an alliance with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I spent all my money and emptied my bank account campaigning for him.

“The Tinubu I know now isn’t the Tinubu I used to know. We will take this message across that only the Northerners can work with the Ijaw people.

“We can’t work with Yoruba people; they are a betrayal to us. We risked our lives by voting and doing everything, and this is what we get?”

“From today, I will work and form an alliance with the North. President Tinubu betrayed me after I spent all my money and emptied my bank account campaigning for him,” he insisted.

He also lamented the scrapping of the Niger Delta ministry in a recent cabinet reshuffle by the president, and the formation of a ministry of regional affairs under which the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDc) will come.

He said the ploy is to render the NDDC ineffective which using the resources from the Niger Delta region to fund other development commission.