A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected a request to deny Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, access to government funds, pending the hearing and determining the suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ruling on the motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, declined to grant the prayers, though he ordered the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice.
Nwite, however, granted the motion ex parte to serve the 5th to 10th defendants in the matter by substituted means saying “the leave is hereby granted to the plaintiffs/applicants, to serve the 5th to 10th defendants/respondents with the plaintiffs/applicants’ originating, and any other process (es) filed or issued in this suit by substituted means to wit: by publishing same in the Nation Newspapers.”
The presiding judge further adjourned the matter to August 7th, to hear the motion on notice.
The 5th to 10th defendants are Fubara, Accountant-General of Rivers; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC); Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairperson of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli and the Government of Rivers State respectively.
The 1st and 2nd plaintiffs being the Rivers State House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule, had filed the suit through their counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN against the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank PLC, and the Accountant General of the Federation as the 1st to 4th defendants.
The court ruling comes after Fubara, last week, vowed to remain upright, and never to govern the state on bended knees no matter how much he is pushed politically.
“I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose, I would not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right,” the governor emphasised.
He said there was a fierce battle to destroy the soul of the state, but he expressed optimism that he will win the battle, with the support of well-meaning persons who are standing firmly with him.
