The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, barred the Rivers State Government from withholding financial allocations of the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the state, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it.

The court, in the ruling that was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, further directed parties in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, which was filed by LGA Chairmen in the state and nine others, to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the matter.

More so, it stopped the Inspector General of Police IGP, Police Commissioner in Rivers, Director General, State Security Service, SSS and its Director, who were cited as defendants in the matter, from withdrawing the security personnel of the LG Chairmen, pending the final resolution of the their motion on notice.

The ruling followed an ex-parte application the plaintiffs argued through their lawyer, Mr. Aliyu Hussein.

Justice Omotosho held that the Rivers State Government should not frustrate or prevent the LG Chairmen from discharging their duties and rendering services to their respective councils till the determination of the suit.

Specifically, the plaintiffs approached the court, praying it for an order of interim injunction to restrain the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Chairman, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Rivers State Government, Attorney General of Rivers and Commissioner for Finance, from witholding the revenue accrued to them.

They also sought order of the court to restrain the IGP, Commissioner of Police in Rivers, the SSS, its Director, SSS in Rivers and the AGF, from withdrawing the security personnel attached to them.

They equally prayed the court to prohibit the defendants from preventing the enforcement or implementation of the newly amended Rivers State Local Government Law N:5 of 2024 pending the determination of the motion.

In a 33-paragraph affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Dr Chidi LLoyd, Chairman of Emohua Local Government, the Chairmen claimed to have been duly elected in a democratically conducted election for a term of three years under the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government Law.

They asserted that they are autonomous and constitutionally recognized as one of the tiers of the government, adding that the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted Rivers State Amended Law to guide their affairs and activities.

They claimed that Rivers State Government, AG and Finance Commissioner, who are not happy with the amended law, have approached the IGP, CP, DG SSS and Director SSS, seeking the withdrawal of policing and other security services from them in order to frustrate the implementation of the amended law.

The Chairmen alleged that the Police Commissioner in the state who has the responsibility to advise IGP on the policing and security needs of Rivers State is under substantial control of Rivers State Government and would implement the directive of the state government.

They averred that it would be impossible for them to carry out their respective functions and duties without the policing and security services of the IGP.

Consequently, they prayed the court to restrain the defendants, especially the Rivers State Government, from taking the law into their hands.

In his ruling, Justice Omotoso ordered all parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The Judge warned that no party should take any step that would make the motion on notice nugatory.

“The plaintiffs are hereby ordered to serve the motion on notice seeking for interlocutory injunction on the defendants to enable them have the opportunity to respond to same.

“That this matter is adjourned to 2nd day of May, 2024 for the hearing of the motion on notice,” the court held.

Cited as plaintiffs in the matter, are: Dr Chidi Lloyd, Chairman, Emohua Local Government, Hon Alwell Ihunda Chairman, Port Harcourt local government, Dr Nwanosike Samuel, Ikwerre local government area, Barrister George Ariolu, Chairman, Obio-Akpor local government, Dr Obinna Anyawu, Chairman, Etchi local government area and Hon Chidorom Nwaiwu, Chairman, Omuma local government area.

Others include: Dr Hope Ikiriko, Chairman, Ahoada West local government area, Barrister Benjamin Isreal Eke, Chairman, Ahoada East Local Government and Dr Roland Sekibo, Chairman, Akuku-Toru LGA.

Exercise in futility, the local goverment Chairmen should wait and see what happens after their tenures expire, Martin Amewhule will one morning pass a resolution making himself governor. But I blame Sim and his men for being this soft. SIM grow some balls, abi you be woman. Put a call across to Fayose, Muftwang and Obaseki and learn how to handle dissidents.

Lol

What a dumb order

An unenforceable order

Ok......
Is that why he redeployed the AG and commissioner for justice including his finance counterpart.
Chai Sim misfired, and he will loose balance and sooner than later, he might be impeached.
This I have seen

Paraman:
Lol

What a dumb order

An unenforceable order

what makes it unenforceable? The problem with you guys, when you support an individual, you lose your sense of reasoning, is it right for a governor to withhold allocation of duly elected LGA Chairmen? Just imagine Tinubu withholding state allocation

Pet2018:
Exercise in futility, the local goverment Chairmen should wait and see what happens after their tenures expires, Martin Amewhule will one morning pass a resolution making himself governor. But I blame Sim and his men for being this soft.

nothing will happen, their actions are backed by the law, if sim tries to go against the law he will be impeached and nothing will happen

Dikegodspower:
Ok......
Is that why he redeployed the AG and commissioner for justice including his finance counterpart.
Chai Sim misfired, and he will loose balance and sooner than later, he might be impeached.
This I have seen

When those of us who know the odds against Sim talk Ipobidients would call us name. Sim started this too early. Sim good has the sympathetic masses behind him and that is the reason he has been to date. But this is not enough as these people are not ready to keep a vigil just as Jesus disciples couldn't when the chips are down. Those sacked commissioners might have given out the information these chairmen acted on.

vanitybutiwanti:
what makes it unenforceable? The problem with you guys, when you support an individual, you lose your sense of reasoning, is it right for a governor to withhold allocation of duly elected LGA Chairmen? Just imagine Tinubu withholding state allocation

Lol

Almost every state Governor withold LG allocation is not a new thing and it's not happening in Rivers alone.

You see eh, there are some orders and judgement that are unenforceable.

Look at what the AGF told ecowas court

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/agf-cautions-ecowas-court-against-unenforceable-judgments/%3famp

The judgement is a waste of time.

Paraman:
Lol

Almost every state Governor withold LG allocation is not a new thing and it's not happening in Rivers alone.

You see eh, there are some orders and judgement that are unenforceable.

Look at what the AGF told ecowas court

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/agf-cautions-ecowas-court-against-unenforceable-judgments/%3famp

The judgement is a waste of time.

you're a clown, is it right for a state governor to withhold allocation? You will learn from Rivers State, don't worry, allocations will be paid directly to lga accounts, just sit back, watch and learn.

vanitybutiwanti:
you're a clown, is it right for a state governor to withhold allocation? You will learn from Rivers State, don't worry, allocations will be paid directly to lga accounts, just sit back, watch and learn.

Lol

There's even a supreme court judgement, stopping the state governors from diverting LG allocations, but till today, almost every state governors still divert LG allocations. Nothing different will happen in Rivers.

Paraman:
Lol

There's even a supreme law judgement, stopping the state governors from diverting LG allocations, but till today, almost every state governors still divert LG allocations. Nothing different will happen in Rivers.

no wahala, till then

vanitybutiwanti:
you're a clown, is it right for a state governor to withhold allocation? You will learn from Rivers State, don't worry, allocations will be paid directly to lga accounts, just sit back, watch and learn.

. You are the clown here buddy

Are you sure you are in Nigeria? Not even a single governor allows for independent local government allocation in Nigeria. See what sycophancy has done to your brain all in the name of following wike.

Paraman:
Lol

Almost every state Governor withold LG allocation is not a new thing and it's not happening in Rivers alone.

You see eh, there are some orders and judgement that are unenforceable.

Look at what the AGF told ecowas court

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/agf-cautions-ecowas-court-against-unenforceable-judgments/%3famp

The judgement is a waste of time.

Then The Federal Government should with hold Rivers State Federal allocation also?

Mercenary123:
. You are the clown here buddy

Are you sure you are in Nigeria? Not even a single governor allows for independent local government allocation in Nigeria. See what sycophancy has done to your brain all in the name of following wike.

Ironically you are the Clown yapping from ignorance.

Paraman:
Lol

There's even a supreme court judgement, stopping the state governors from diverting LG allocations, but till today, almost every state governors still divert LG allocations. Nothing different will happen in Rivers.

That is because State Assemblies have failed to react, now they Rivers State House of Assembly wants to use Mumu Fubara as the first example for local government reforms.

favor914:
Then The Federal Government should with hold Rivers State Federal allocation also?

The FG can't withold a state allocation, but state governors can withhold LG allocations.

favor914:
That is because State Assemblies have failed to react, now they Rivers State House of Assembly wants to use Mumu Fubara as the first example for local government reforms.

Let's see if Fubara will be able to wriggle his way out of this situation

Paraman:
The FG can't withold a state allocation, but state governors can withhold LG allocations.

Fubara shouldn’t push his luck too much, there is always a bigger bully around the corner, no honor amongst thieves, let the FG not give Fubara the treatment Obasanjo meted out on Lagos State & Governor Tinubu.

vanitybutiwanti:
nothing will happen, their actions are backed by the law, if sim tries to go against the law he will be impeached and nothing will happen

If they can't impeach SIM or jail him because of immunity, the attorney general and the finance commissioner may be jailed for contempt.Afterall, immunity no cover those ones.

favor914:
Fubara shouldn’t push his luck too much, there is always a bigger bully around the corner, no honor amongst thieves, let the FG not give Fubara the treatment Obasanjo meted out on Lagos State & Governor Tinubu.

Tinubu was giving Lagos state allocation but was not giving LG allocation by OBJ.

Paraman:
Lol

Almost every state Governor withold LG allocation is not a new thing and it's not happening in Rivers alone.

You see eh, there are some orders and judgement that are unenforceable.

Look at what the AGF told ecowas court

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/agf-cautions-ecowas-court-against-unenforceable-judgments/%3famp

The judgement is a waste of time.

No governor withholds local government fund. They stop local government elections before they can hold the fund

Paraman:
Tinubu was giving Lagos state allocation but was not giving LG allocation by OBJ.

Same will be done to Mumu Fubara.

Jogs1900:

If they can't impeach SIM or jail him because of immunity, the attorney general and the finance commissioner may be jailed for contempt.Afterall, immunity no cover those ones.

Go and jail them

Mercenary123:
. You are the clown here buddy

Are you sure you are in Nigeria? Not even a single governor allows for independent local government allocation in Nigeria. See what sycophancy has done to your brain all in the name of following wike.

you're the sycophant here, lgas are autonomous in Rivers state, lga chairmen construct roads, markets, schools, give scholarships and embark on numerous projects, stop talking about things you know nothing about

Death to all politicians..

He will not stop fund to legid local govt chairmen

LolWhat a dumb orderAn unenforceable order

Sim has himself to blame for believing that he can make peace with those who wants him out of office. A governor with EXECUTIVE POWER is behaving like a wimp.
If Sim handover to me in two days, the RSHA will all, I mean ALL decamp back to PDP.

Let the drama continue.
We're watching with keen eyes

vanitybutiwanti:
what makes it unenforceable? The problem with you guys, when you support an individual, you lose your sense of reasoning, is it right for a governor to withhold allocation of duly elected LGA Chairmen? Just imagine Tinubu withholding state allocation

Your mumu ne get part 2.
Can you categorically state where there allocation is withhold? Do courts now work on hearsay?
What evidence do they have that substantially proves that their allocations will be withhold?

vanitybutiwanti:
you're the sycophant here, lgas are autonomous in Rivers state, lga chairmen construct roads, markets, schools, give scholarships and embark on numerous projects, stop talking about things you know nothing about

. So in your warped mind, local government are not autonomous in other states except River State

You be mumu. Carry your sycophancy go elsewhere abeg.

favor914:
Ironically you are the Clown yapping from ignorance.

. See them sycophants, everything is seen from the angle of partisanship

Mumu people