A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Rivers State Government, prohibiting it from withholding allocations for the 42 local government areas in the state. This order comes amidst a legal battle marked FHC/ABJ/CS/537/2024, where the council chairmen filed a motion for an interlocutory injunction against the state and others.
Justice James Omotoso, in a ruling on Thursday, directed all parties to maintain the status quo until the motion for interlocutory injunction is resolved. Additionally, the judge halted the Inspector-General of Police, Police Commissioner in Rivers, Director General of the State Security Service, and Director of State Security Service SSS from withdrawing security personnel from the local government chairmen pending the final resolution of the case.
The ruling stems from an ex-parte application presented by counsel for the chairmen, Aliyu Hussein. In the application, the chairmen sought interim injunctions to prevent various entities, including the Attorney General of the Federation, Rivers State Government, and others, from withholding revenue accrued to them.
The affected chairmen, including Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emuoha), Alwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt), and others, are represented in the case against the defendants, including the IGP, CP Rivers, DG SSS, AGF, and others.
The case has been adjourned to May 2 for further proceedings.