Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the judiciary not to take actions that could ignite unrest in Rivers State. This warning follows a Federal High Court ruling that ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to halt all payments to the state.
In a statement from his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku criticized the ruling, questioning why Justice Joyce Abdulmalik would issue it when Rivers had already appealed a prior decision declaring its 2024 budget illegal due to its passage by an incomplete assembly.
Atiku expressed concern over what he described as behind-the-scenes manipulation by elements within the Bola Tinubu administration. He highlighted that despite warnings from legal expert Femi Falana (SAN) about possible judicial compromises, his concerns were ignored.
Atiku commended Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for summoning judges involved in the Rivers cases, stressing that the judiciary’s credibility is at stake. He warned that ongoing legal conflicts are eroding public trust and could deter foreign investment.
He urged the judiciary to restore its integrity before it’s too late, emphasizing that Nigeria should not revert to chaos amid an economic crisis, particularly in a state that contributes significantly to the nation’s oil wealth.
