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Court Order Stopping Rivers’ Allocation, Invitation To Anarchy – Wabara

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2024

Former Senate President and the Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT), of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed disappointment over Wednesday’s judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered the seizure of statutory allocations to Rivers State Government.

The former Senate President who described the judgment as judicial insensitivity and an invitation to anarchy, said that “the judiciary has failed Nigeria.”

Senator Wabara who spoke exclusively with Vanguard, warned that the “ill-conceived court order is capable of cutting off Nigeria’s oil revenue” as youths in the state might be tempted to return to the creeks in response.

He further argued that if the judiciary had handled Rivers’s crisis “professionally abinitio, instead of dishing out conflicting intentional orders and judgements, Rivers State wouldn’t have been in this judicial mess.”

“But for these intentional orders and judgments, INEC would have conducted an election to replace the 27 lawmakers who have constitutionally lost their seats”, Senator Wabara fumed.

He further thundered:”These judges have gone haywire. Nigeria is gone! The judiciary has failed Nigeria. As far as I’m concerned, Nigeria is gone!

“Can they (judges) also give an order that the allocation meant for the judiciary be stopped?”

The former Senate President who recalled that he had earlier warned that the smouldering political crisis in Rivers, was capable of consuming Nigeria if unchecked, urged President Bola Tinubu to act fast.

“I had earlier advised President Tinubu to wade in and stop the mess in Rivers because this crisis in Rivers State , if not stopped, is capable of consuming Nigeria.

“Do they know that Rivers’ allocation is not for Gov. Siminalayi Fubara but for the development of the entire state? And what it means in essence, is that workers will not be paid and Government activities halted. Did the judge think of the multiplier effect on the peace and security of the state?

“I’m not a lawyer but I believe that certain judgments should follow logic, and not just somebody sitting down to issue a corrupt judgement. This judgment will just grind Rivers State to a halt, and by so doing, they are inviting anarchy and restiveness because the people might be tempted to go back to the creeks.

“By the time they stop the source of that money that Nigeria gathers to share every month, there will be no more revenue for the entire country to share again. Why must we take that risk?

“I’m in pain. I weep for this country. This is not the democracy we all anticipated. The CJN should intensify efforts in calling the judges to order. If she invited them just a few days ago to admonish them and this thing is happening, then it means there’s no hope for the country “.

The court presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a suit by the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, found that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly breached constitutional protocol.

Justice Abdulmalik highlighted that since January, Rivers State has received and spent allocations based on an “illegitimate” budget, describing this as a “constitutional aberration.”

The court order further restricts the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the state’s accounts at Zenith Bank and Access Bank from releasing any funds to Gov. Fubara.

There has been nationwide condemnation against the judgment with the opposition lawmakers at the national Assembly describing it as the height of judicial rascality, and calling for a mass protest by Rivers people.

VANGUARD

News

Trump’s Airstrikes: Halt Military Cooperation With US Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu Govt

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following reported US airstrikes.

Gumi warned that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty.

Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

He said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record.

According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in civilian casualties and hidden political motives.

Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country, further destabilising it.

He also cautioned that US involvement, particularly under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise the country along religious lines.

The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, which he said Nigeria has enough personnel to carry out if properly organised.

“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.

“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.

“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” part of his statement reads.

News

Shehu Sani Reacts To Trump’s Military Strikes In Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Former lawmaker, senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to reports of United States military strikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria’s North-West, saying foreign powers cannot permanently handle the country’s security challenges.

Sani made the remarks on Friday via his X handle while responding to a post by the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, which indicated that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

According to him, if the reported strikes were indeed a joint operation with Nigerian security agencies, then such action was justifiable, given the threat posed by terrorist groups in the region.

He described terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria as “cancerous cells,” stressing that they survive through violence and should be confronted decisively.

Sani also dismissed narratives suggesting that terrorist attacks target only one religious group, describing such claims as false and misleading.

He said: “If actually, the military strikes against the terrorists targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the ‘Nigerian Authorities’ as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action.

“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country.They live by the sword.The narrative that the evil terrorists only targets one faith, remains absolutely false and misleading.

“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power. They can complimentarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”