The Federal Government’s decision to halt the Rivers State monthly allocation has been characterized by opposition lawmakers as the pinnacle of judicial irrationality.
Under the direction of Justice Abdulmalik Joyce, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on Wednesday to seize the state’s statutory allocation.
The MPs maintain that the Supreme Court and Appeal Court have not to rule on the validity of the decamped Pro-Wike dismissed lawmakers.
In contrast to the probable result of ongoing appeals in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on the same issue, the Opposition Coalition hailed the ruling as a judicial coup.
The lawmakers claimed in a statement released on Wednesday, which was signed by its spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, that the ruling was unmistakable proof that the Federal High Court had lost its mind and was prepared to do whatever it took to further the undemocratic interests of Wike’s supporters, even going so far as to try to seize constitutional funds belonging to a sovereign people in order to further the political goals of a single individual.
It said, “How can a judge who knows very well that the decamped lawmakers have lost their seats, still go ahead to order for the allocation to be seized in favour of those who have lost their seat while the issues are pending at different courts on whether they should be parading as lawmakers.
“You want to use the Federal High Court to undermine democracy and constitutional governance. The issue of legality of their decampment is still in court and you are rushing to order that budget be presented to them as who?
“How can you be aware that all the subject matters are before the Appeal Court and Supreme Court and you still went ahead to attempt to do harm and damage to innocent tax paying people of Rivers who did nothing.
“The Supreme Court have ruled on the sanctity of the LGA and State allocation as a sovereign wealth of the people that can’t be seized as such funds are constitutional and can only be spent on the authority of that State or LGA.
“If the head of the state or LGA is not spending it well or spending it without necessary compliance with laid down regulations, the constitution gives you power to impeach such officer, if you have the numbers and legitimacy.
“So because the pro-Wike group know they have lost the legitimacy to be called lawmakers or perform legislative functions, they now rushed to court to use the court to attempt to carry out a financial coup against the Rivers people.
“So after generating oil revenue from the backyard of Rivers People, other states will take their own share home and the people that produced the revenue will starve to death.
“The High Court wants to please the Pro Wike Group , and you think this will bring peace to Niger Delta? The allocation is not a political fund or money meant for Governor Fubara but official revenue of the entire people that covers their economic, health, security and welfare needs.
“The pro-Wike group and the Federal High Court Abuja have shown that they are anarchist and anti-people and warming up to ignite anger and confusion that can consume the current democratic settings like the shameful criss of the 60s and 80s.
“The President is now going to be at the receiving end if anything happens to the funds of people of Rivers State. President Tinubu should remember that his government in Lagos secured the Supreme Court judgement during his fight with Obasanjo, which barred the seizure of LGA allocation.
“The opposition not only condemn the judgement which rubbished the Supreme Court exiting judgement that barrs the federal government or any organ of the federal government from seizing any State or LGA allocation but will do everything legally and humanly possible to ensure that the controversial ruling is quashed.
“Rivers State is the treasure base of the nation and you can’t embark on a journey to starve the people and think peace can be maintained in such an atmosphere of anarchy.
“Opposition is hopeful that upper courts will quash and throw into the Judicial dustbin these pro-Wike judgments which have become a huge embarrassment to the judiciary today and increased our people’s loss of confidence in the judiciary.”
