A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to shut down all expenditures of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a ruling on their motion, Justice Emeka Nwite asked the plaintiff to notify all those being sued.
The judge, however, granted other motion ex-parte to serve by substituted means the originating process and other applications in the matter to Governor Fubara; the Rivers State Accountant-General; the Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC); the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi; the chairman of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli, and the Rivers State government.
Martin Amaewhule and other lawmakers also joined the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, and the Accountant-General of the Federation in the suit.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until 7 August for a hearing of the motion on notice.
The Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the banks from honoring any request, command, order, or mandate for any banking or other instrument, financial instruction, or other instructions issued by Governor Fubara or the Rivers State government.
Last Monday, the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers suspended all expenditures by Governor Fubara, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum they gave the governor to present his budget.
