The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has thanked President Bola Tinubu for releasing the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) due to Rivers State for October.
Speaking to newsmen in Uyo, PANDEF’s new National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, described the decision as “statesmanly” and noted that it brings relief not only to Rivers State residents but to all Nigerians.
“…this decision will ensure that the innocent citizens of Rivers State will not suffer vicariously from the family feud between some of the political leaders of the state,” Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF’s spokesman, quoted Igali as saying.
“He (Igali) further expressed the hope that this decision will also aid the efforts by the Obong Victor Attah led High level Peace and Reconciliation Committee recently constituted by PANDEF.
“The PANDEF leader again called on all political actors and leaders in Rivers State as well as youth and women groups to sheath the sword and follow the steps taken by the federal government in de-escalating tension while the reconciliation effort by the elders of the region is ongoing.”
The release of funds comes amid a legal battle that prompted Governor Siminalayi Fubara to approach the Court of Appeal to seek vacation of a previous judgment that had barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly allocations to Rivers State.
The restraining order was issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court on October 30, following a suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.
The political tension in Rivers was heightened by the face-off between Governor Fubara and state lawmakers believed to be supporting FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in the wake of the rift between the governor and the minister.
The current dispute centers on Governor Fubara’s presentation of the Rivers State 2024 Appropriation Bill before a four-member state assembly.
The Amaewhule-led group in seeking to compel the governor to represent the budget before the full house, approached the court to stop federal allocations to the state.
But Governor Fubara had insisted that the Amaewhule-led group ceased to be lawmakers in the state having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which sponsored their election to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meanwhile, the governor on Friday prayed the Court of Appeal to set-aside the judgment that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly allocations to Rivers.
Fubara, through his counsel Yusuf Ali, SAN, prayed to a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Hamma Barka, to vacate the high court order which he said was issued in bad faith.
He urged the appellate court to allow his appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1303/2024, and nullify adverse orders that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court made against the state in the judgment she delivered on Oct. 30.
Fubara’s plea came on a day the Justice Barka-led panel consolidated five other appeals that arose from the said judgment of the high court.
The appeals were marked as: CA/ABJ/CV/1277/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1196/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1287/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1293/24 and CA/ABJ/CV/1360/2024.
Aside Fubara, other appellants in the matter are the Rivers State Government, the Accountant-General of Rivers State and Zenith Bank Plc.
The lower court had restrained the CBN from further allowing the Rivers government to draw funds from the consolidated revenue account. The restraining order followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, which was brought before the court by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Defendants in the matter are the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).
Others are Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC; Chief Judge of Rivers, Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairman of RSIEC, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli and the Government of Rivers.
The appellants, through their respective counsel, urged the appellate court to allow their appeal.
Similarly, the the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, through their team of lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, asked the court to dismiss the appeals and affirm the high court’s judgment.
After all the parties adopted their briefs of argument , the panel reserved its judgment till a date that would be communicated to the parties.