The Nigerian government has announced the cessation of the October monthly revenue payment from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to Rivers State.
This decision comes amidst the growing conflict between Governor Simi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesome Wike.
According to Bawa Mokwa, spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the payment halt was implemented in compliance with a court order.
Mokwa stated that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) will adhere to the court ruling, which prohibits the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian government from distributing monthly allocations to the Rivers State government.
His words: “What I got is that the October 2024 FAAC has not been distributed yet. However, the Federal Government will obey the court order on the matter of Rivers State allocation.
“We are going to follow due diligence as long as there is no contrary order. In case there is a contrary, the status will remain.”
He added, “The process of disbursement of the October 2024 monthly allocation is going.”
The court order was obtained by the factional Rivers State Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, who had filed an originating summons against the Rivers State Executive, under the leadership of Simi Fubara.
The Amaewhule faction had alleged that the Rivers State Executive was yet to comply with the order of a Federal High Court directing it to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill to the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.