‘Innocent citizens will suffer’ – PANDEF calls for review of s’court judgment stopping Rivers allocations

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called for a review of the supreme court’s judgment stopping the disbursement of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds to Rivers state.

In the judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.

The court also ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state house of assembly and other elected members to resume sitting.

The Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers assembly is loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate former governor of the state.

The supreme court also nullified the local government election held in Rivers on October 5, 2024.

Reacting to the judgment in a statement on Sunday, Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF national publicity secretary, said the judgment would impose unwarranted hardship on the people and cause mayhem in the state.

“Undoubtedly, the primary casualties of this judicial restraint will be the innocent citizens of Rivers state, for whom these funds serve as a lifeline for economic, social growth, and infrastructural development,” the statement reads.

“To deprive the state of its rightful allocations is to impose unwarranted hardship on a people who have consistently contributed to national sustenance.”

Pandef noted that the verdict could undermine peace and reconciliation efforts in the region, urging the supreme court to reconsider its decision in the interest of national unity, economic stability, and social justice.

“This verdict constitutes a grave impediment to the painstaking peace-building initiatives spearheaded by PANDEF, particularly through the Obong Victor Attah-led peace and reconciliation committee,” PANDEF said.

PANDEF also referenced a similar incident during Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos state when the federal government, under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, withheld local government funds.

“One thing that has come to mind in the midst of this Supreme Court ruling is the withdrawal of the local government fund to Lagos state. It was widely condemned. One therefore wonders that such repetition would emerge again even in higher magnitude in this 21st century with potentially grave implications for peace and security in the entire Niger Delta,” PANDEF noted.