The Rivers State government recently responded to the Federal High Court’s refusal to stay proceedings in a case involving the suspension of federal allocations to the state’s local governments. The case, filed by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, aims to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold these funds due to alleged legislative irregularities within the state assembly.

Rivers State sought to pause the proceedings and requested the case be heard locally rather than in Abuja. However, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed these requests, labeling them “frivolous and mischievous,” and maintained jurisdiction over the case, with judgment to be communicated at a later date.