….Orders pro-Wike lawmakers to resume immediately
The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation to stop further releasing financial allocations to Rivers state government with immediate effect.
The apex court directed that the order shall be in force until the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara stops all his illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional activities.
Specifically, the court said that no money shall be released to the state government until a lawful Appropriation Law is enacted under the Martin Amaewhule Speakership.
In a judgment on Friday delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, the Supreme Court also ordered the 27- members of Rivers House of Assembly to resume function immediately.
The unanimous judgment of the 5-man panel of Justices led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji dismantled all actions carried out by governor Fubara for being unlawful.
The apex court lambasted the governor for engaging in criminal activity of demolishing the House of Assembly with impunity just to prevent 27 legislators in the House of assembly from sitting to carry out lawful activities.
Justice Agim ordered the the Clerk and Deputy Clerk who were unlawfully redeployed out of the House of assembly must be allowed to resume work alongside the House of assembly workers.
The court held that it was aberration for governor Fubara to operate with only 4 out of the 32 House of assembly members under the guise of baseless fears that he would be impeached.
According to the Justices, Fubara by his unlawful act among others, collapsed the House of assembly and used his immunity under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to carry out barbaric acts against the rule of law.
The Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Federal high court, both in Abuja which had earlier declared the acts against the 27 state of House of Assembly members as unlawful and illegal.
A sum of N10million fine was imposed on Fubara to be paid to the House of assembly and the 27 members who instituted the suit against him.
The Federal High Court had held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January last year by governor Siminalayi Fubara was a constitutional summersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik who delivered the Federal high court judgment had last year issued an order that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the Constitutional provision.
Specifically, the Judge had said that Fubara action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.
The judge had therefore restrainined CBN, Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.
Details later.
The Chairman of Northern Youth Wing Christians Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Musa Misal, has denied issuing any press statement in support of Rev Yakubu Pam, the former Northern CAN chairman, stating that their allegiance is with Rev John Joseph Hayab.
Misal in a statement issued to journalists said some people wrote an earlier statement and asked him to sign, but he refused because he was present when the State Chairmen in the 19 Northern States and FCT elected Rev John Joseph Hayab as their leader.
“I was present, live and direct when the State Chairmen and Secretaries, together with Christian Stakeholders, elected Rev Joseph John Hayab as chairman, an election that has brought joy and relief to many Christians in the region,” he said.
The Northern States YOWICAN and the general public should disregard the fake statement. We are children of God who will give account before God on the day of Judgement.
“I, therefore, wish to disassociate myself from the “Northern CAN Youth Wing Stands Firm for REV Pam ” press statement and also appeal to any of my colleagues that has allowed anyone to use him to stop henceforth.
“My appeal also goes to the former leaders to stop the desperation and join the joy of the moment with Rev Hayab as our New Chairman,” he added.
EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, their arrest follows credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.
”Items recovered from them include seven exotic cars, laptop computers and phones.
”They have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.
“As in the previous days, the night was quiet, and the pope is now resting,” a spokesman said.
The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church has been in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for two weeks, where he is being treated for a severe bilateral pneumonia.
In recent days, Francis’ condition had slightly improved, according to official reports. Sources close to him revealed in the evening that he was “out of the most critical phase.”
The pope is receiving medication along with physiotherapy aimed at easing the respiratory infection, he is repeatedly being provided with extra oxygen through a face mask or a nasal tube.
This therapy is evidently effective as since the weekend, Francis has had no breathing difficulties, according to official reports. His blood values have also improved.
However, a discharge is not expected soon: “Given the complexity of the medical condition, further days of clinical stability are required,” an evening bulletin stated.
The pontiff has now been in hospital for longer than ever. Doctors still emphasise how dangerous such a severe pneumonia is at Francis’ age.
He was elected as the head of the Church in March 2013, succeeding the German Benedict XVI. Francis is now the second oldest pope in history.(dpa)
