FG to release Rivers allocation to sole administrator despite Supreme Court judgment against it

• This is even as it exonerated the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of any involvement in the political crisis in Rivers State

Federal Government has said that the allocation for Rivers State will be handed over to the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd).

The government also said President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was timely and meant to avert an implosion in the state.

This is even as it exonerated the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of any involvement in the political crisis in Rivers State that culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made this known on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

While fielding questions on whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state in view of the latest development, the Minister said if the administrator requests for it, it will be released to him.

“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.”

He justified the decision of the President to declare a state of emergency in the state.

Recall that the Supreme Court had restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria from releasing allocation to Rivers State over the political crisis in the State.

It ordered the state government then led by the now-suspended Sim Fubara to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the reinstated House of Assembly before it can get the allocation.