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Tag: Rivers LGAs

  • Fubara to inaugurate 10 critical projects across Rivers LGAs

    Fubara to inaugurate 10 critical projects across Rivers LGAs

    Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to inaugurate and flag off 10 major projects across six local government areas of the state.

    The governor announced the plan in Port Harcourt on Monday through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba.

    Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the mandate given by the people of Rivers State.

    He stressed that delivering tangible development and democratic benefits remained a top priority of his government.

    ‎He said, “Beginning from Wednesday, December 10 to 23 December, the projects for commissioning and flag-off will cut across Ahoada East and West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Kwerre, Emohua, Obio/Akpor, and Port-Harcourt City Local Government Areas of Rivers State.”

    ‎The governor commended the people of Rivers for finding him worthy to serve them and vowed to keep delivering the dividends of democracy to all citizens, irrespective of location, while maintaining the peace and development of Rivers.

    He said, “As a government that secured its electoral victory on the popular mandate of the good people of Rivers State, we pledged, at the inception of this administration, to make the welfare of our citizens a primus of our social contract, and this we have assiduously worked to protect and to provide, through the provision of critical infrastructure and other welfarist programmes, including keeping the peace and order of the state, for its socioeconomic growth and development.”

    Fubara noted that the six-month state of emergency created a temporary setback, but emphasized that his administration was ready to resume its development agenda without delay.

    He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for intervening and facilitating his return to office as Governor despite resistance from opposing interests.

    ‎The governor further assured Rivers people of their security and urged them to follow the path of peace.

    ‎He said, “Despite the resultant effects of the interregnum in democratic governance, we have taken off in earnest, from where we stopped, particularly in the initiation, execution, and completion of projects, with special appreciation to the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose timely and fatherly intervention and magnanimity ensured that this administration returned to fulfil its obligation to the people of the State.”

    The projects to be inaugurated are the extension of dualization of the Ahoada-Omoku road, the Egbeda-Omerelu link road, Ikwerre road-Igwuruta-Airport, RIVTAF Housing Estate/Anniversary Celebration, and Ihuowo-Ihuama ring road

    Others are Obodhi-Ozochi road and bridge, Ogbakiri junction (roundabout)-Ogbakiri Waterfront road, Ahoada Zonal Hospital, Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters, and Federal High Court Complex, while Ipo town-Airport road bypass would be flagged off.

  • UPDATED: Court declines request to stay proceedings in suit against fund allocation to Rivers LGAs

    UPDATED: Court declines request to stay proceedings in suit against fund allocation to Rivers LGAs

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has  rejected the request by Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit seeking to stop allocation of funds to all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State. 

    In a ruling on Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the application for stay made by lawyer to the Government of Rivers State, Gordy Uche (SAN) was frivolous, vexatious, unwarranted and mischievous. 

    The ruling was given during Friday’s proceedings in a suit, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1197/2024 by the Rivers State House of Assembly and  Honourable Martin Amaewhule.

    The Rivers Government had sought a stay of proceedings in the case, claiming to be challenging the court’s jurisdiction before the Court of Appeal.

    The plaintiffs are seeking among others, to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withhold financial allocation to LGAS in Rivers State.

    The plaintiffs are contending, among others, that the Rivers State Executive allegedly failed to comply with an earlier order of a Federal High Court directing it to represent the 2024 appropriation Bill to the Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.

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    Justice James Omotosho (also of the Federal High Court) had in an earlier judgment judgment, faulted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for presenting the state’s 2024 Appropriation Bill before a minority four-member alegislative house led by Edison Ehie.

    Justice Abdulmalik also rejected the request by the Accountant General of Rivers, asking her to refuse herself from the case on grounds of alleged bias.

    Represented by Tuturu Edem (SAN) the Rivers AG complained about way the judge had conducted proceedings in the case, claiming it was strange and unbelievable. 

    Other defendants in the case, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aligned with the Rivers AG, a position the plaintiffs faulted.

    In a subsequent ruling, Justice Abdulmalik refused to recuse herself from the case, as demanded by the defendants, insisting that she was not biased as alleged by the defendants.

    The judge equally declined the defendants’ application that she hands off the case and allow the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to take over the case.

    In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the territorial jurisdiction of the Federal High Court was one across the country.

    The Judge also held that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court was with the discretion to assign any case to a judge of his choice. 

    She subsequently ordered that  hearing in the substantive matter and the preliminary objections should continue.

    Lawyers to parties proceeded to make their final submissions in respect of the substantive suit, following which Justice Abdulmalik pronounced that parties would be informed when the judgment is ready.