Opposition Lawmakers Coalition condemns court ruling on state allocation seizure

The Opposition Lawmakers Coalition in Nigeria has vehemently criticized a ruling by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, led by Justice Abdulmalik Joyce, which ordered the seizure of the Statutory State Allocation.

This decision comes amid ongoing legal disputes surrounding the legitimacy of lawmakers who recently decamped from their political parties, with cases still pending at both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.

In a media conference, National Spokesperson Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere described the court’s ruling as a “legal coup” that undermines the potential outcomes of these appeals.

He characterized the decision as an act of judicial rascality, warning that it threatens to unleash constitutional anarchy in a federating state that is supposed to uphold democratic principles.

Ugochinyere expressed concern over the court’s actions, stating, “How can a judge who knows that the decamped lawmakers have lost their seats still go ahead to order the allocation to be seized?”

He criticized the ruling as an attempt to impose political interests on the state’s finances, suggesting that it disregards the rights of the sovereign people of Rivers State.

The coalition’s statement also pointed to the implications of the ruling, emphasizing that the Federal High Court’s actions could harm essential public services funded by these allocations. “Imagine oxygen being switched off from hospitals because one man wants to create anarchy just to capture the wealth of the people,” Ugochinyere added.

Furthermore, the coalition warned that the ruling reflects a bias within the judicial system, accusing Justice Abdulmalik Joyce and Chief Justice John Toso of disregarding evidence of partiality presented in ongoing petitions.

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They argue that this judgment contradicts previous Supreme Court rulings that protect the sanctity of local government and state allocations as sovereign wealth meant for public welfare.

The Opposition Coalition announced that an appeal has already been lodged against the ruling, which they labeled an “invitation to anarchy.”

They called for widespread public protests in Rivers State to mobilize against what they describe as a calculated attempt to destabilize the state and undermine democratic governance.

In closing, the coalition expressed hope that higher courts would quash the ruling, which they believe has eroded public confidence in the judiciary.

They urged the people of Rivers State to unite against this perceived political madness, asserting that the well-being of the state’s citizens should take precedence over partisan interests.