That Unfortunate Judgment Seizing Rivers State Allocations

I write to express my anger and disgust at a recent order given by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the Federal Accountant General, Central Bank, Zenith Bank and others not to give monthly statutory allocations to Rivers State government any longer.
Even though I am not a municipal lawyer, it makes no logic that a statutory allocation meant for the people of Rivers State would be withheld for whatever spurious reason. The enemies of the state have really worked overtime to spin these present turn of events.
More worrisome, is the speed with which the pro-Wike forces were able to speed up the court processes and effect a damning judgement that would affect millions of Rivers State citizens. What is the ratio descendendi of seizing the state’s monthly allocation when the seizure of this monthly allocation would deny many families their salaries and allowances that they had taken for granted for so long.
There has been a corny phrase making the rounds that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. In Nigeria, it does appear that the judiciary is gradually becoming the exclusive preserve of the high and mighty in society, the upper class. It appears that justice is now served on a platter of gold to the highest bidder. If this is not the case, why didn’t those who took the case to court, prefer to patronize a Federal High Courts in Abuja while there are Port Harcourt and State High Courts. Perhaps, they elected to go there because of their measure of influence in the Federal Capital Territory.
On reflection of the brisk turn of events culminating in the order leading to the seizing of the monthly statutory allocation to Rivers State, there has been a series of thorny litigations intent on unravelling whether Martins Amaewhule is the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly with his other lawmakers or former lawmakers.
The pro-Fubara group has always insisted that ever since Martins Amaewhule and his friends defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the full glare of the public, they cease to be members of the State House of Assembly by virtue of their defection. Arising from their open defection, there was no way that an Appropriation Bill could have been submitted to them. In the eyes of the law, they were no longer recognized as lawmakers and as such it was only those who remained loyal to the party, (the PDP) that brought them to power that were still recognized as lawmakers and as such, the Rivers State Appropriation Bill was submitted to them and passed into law.
It is curious to note that, the lawsuits challenging the authenticity of Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers by reason of their defection is moving at snail pace and is not receiving the speedy attention it deserves. The people of Rivers State need a speedy process that would confirm if by reason of the defection of Martins Amaewhule and his friends, they cease to be lawmakers or perhaps they are above the law or above the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is only when that ultimate matter has been decided at the Supreme Court that Rivers people can reason with court pronouncements to the effect that the 2024 budget should be presented to Martins Amaewhule and his followers. It is rather curious that in spite of very damning public evidence which confirm the defection of Martins Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers, these lawmakers in the eye of the storm are currently denying that they even defected in the first place.
On that note, it is even in the court records that they collectively deposed to an affidavit affirming that they have defected to the APC. Nigerians are in bated breath awaiting the outcome of this case as similar cases come to mind within the same country, one such instance was the case involving Lagos State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria where the Supreme court refused to seize the statutory monthly allocation of Lagos State government on the grounds that it would lead to the suffering and starvation of many families which in turn could lead to a breakdown of law, order and be a willing recipe for anarchy in the land. The brilliant Supreme Court judges hinged their ruling on the good and well-being of the public. Is it surprising, when erudite minds like Justice Nike Tobi were there?
Those stoking and fanning the embers of crisis and anarchy in Rivers State may be feeling that they are quite comfortable in faraway Abuja, but if there is a breakdown of law and order, they can’t be rest assured that it will not affect them. These are trying and testy times for Nigeria’s judiciary. The average man on the street expects that the judiciary will rise up like one sleeping giant and dispense justice in such a manner that the common man on the street is taken care of adequately.
For one reason or the other, the common man cannot ascend to the heights and the hallowed chambers of the Supreme Court. It is at crucial moments like this that the common man expects the Judiciary to embrace and enforce the peculiar jurisprudence that will liberate him from those who are threatening night and day to emasculate and pauperize him further.
As the pro-Wike forces continue in their unending quest to force Governor Fubara to prostrate and do their bidding, they should not be surprised that Governor Sim Fubara’s resolve not to bow to their Nebuchadnezzar decree is gaining more and more momentum by the day. Also, they should not be in a hurry to forget that what is on the front burner now is the 2025 budget.
– Sammie Adokiye, Port Harcourt.