Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu for releasing Rivers State’s withheld allocation to the newly appointed Sole Administrator, despite a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting such action.
The Supreme Court had, on February 28, issued an order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), and other relevant agencies from disbursing funds to the Rivers State Government until it complied with previous court rulings.
However, following President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State last week which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the Sole Administrator. On Friday, Ibas confirmed that the withheld allocations had been released.
Reacting to the development, Obi, in a statement on Monday, condemned the decision, calling it unlawful and a direct affront to the authority of the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court explicitly barred the CBN and AGF from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passed a valid Appropriation Act.
Yet, this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral concerns and questions about what is happening in Rivers State,” Obi stated.
He warned that such disregard for judicial authority sets a dangerous precedent, undermining the nation’s democratic foundations.
“By ignoring the Supreme Court’s judgment, those involved are eroding the rule of law. Institutions like the CBN and AGF, which are meant to uphold legal standards, must not be complicit in this disregard for our judiciary,” he added.
Obi further stressed that the issue extends beyond Rivers State, warning that continued disregard for the judiciary threatens the fabric of democracy in Nigeria.
“A nation cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is ignored, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions. If we continue on this path, we are undermining the future of our democracy,” he stated.
He urged authorities to respect the law and uphold constitutional principles to preserve the nation’s democratic integrity.
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.