- Safiu Kehinde
In the wake of Abuja Federal High Court judgement barring the release of monthly financial allocation to Rivers state, Nigerians has expressed the dissatisfaction over the development.
The court’s verdict, coming under the heels of the power tussle between the state’s governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has caused stirs amongst netizens who accused the judiciary of tyranny and aberration of the rule of law.
NPO reported that court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, held that the presentation of the 2024 Budget by Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.
Meanwhile, noteworthy among the teeming reactions on X is Chidi Odinaku who recalled how President Bola Tinubu was subjected to similar treatment when he Lagos state governor in 2004.
Sharing the cover page of the 2004 case file tendered to the Supreme court, Odinaku revealed how the apex court had denied the application to withhold monthly allocation to Lagos state.
He, however, expressed disappointment in the twist of narrative which saw the Abuja High Court overulling the Supreme Court in Fubara’s case.
“20 yrs ago, while @officialABAT was governor of @followlasg
, @SupremeCourtNg declined an application to withhold the #FederationAccount allocations of Lagos LGAs.
Today, a judge of @FederalHigh overruled the Supreme Court. This is not #RuleOfLaw; it is tyranny of the #Outlaw.” Odinaku wrote.
In the same vein, another X user, simply identified as Megamixer, claimed those who fought for democracy and rule of law in the past are the same fighting against them today.
“Those who purportedly fought for democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria are today fighting the same democracy and the rule of law. Time is indeed the true test of one’s identity and true intentions.” He wrote.
The judiciary, according to another X handler, @DailyJusticeAct, has allegedly been captured and turned upside down.
“The nigerian judiciary has been captured & it is being used by some soulless homosapiens to oppress & intimidate everyone. Even a basic law/rule of precedent has been turned upside down by compromised judges in Abuja.” @ DailyJusticeAct commented.
For Jay Akor, the current judiciaries are bunch of embarrasment when compared to those present during Tinubu’s regime as Lagos state governor.
“Those supreme court judges then were men of integrity that upheld the sanctity of the judiciary. What we have today from the magistrates to the supreme court judges are bunch of embarrassment to the judiciary and country at large. They are a disgrace!” Akor wrote.
“Nigeria is overdue for a revolution. These criminals who have captured the state and it’s institutions will not willingly do right by the people. Therefore, needs to be forced out” @Bobby Brazzi wrote.
“Those were the days when our judges haven’t become this WIKED and never allowed themselves to be Sodomized, sorry Nyesomarsed so badly. We now have any where belle-face judges.” @Kingsley.
Meanwhile, some netizens were of different opinion as they maintained that Tinubu’s case during his tenure as Lagos governor is different from Fubara’s case.
“These are two different scenarios.Obj stopped the LGA allocation in Lagos because of the creation of LCDAs,but here, the court stopped CBN from sending allocation to the Rivers State government because the gov presented the budget to only 4 lawmakers. Sometimes let’s be truthful.” @OyeBright
“Under what circumstances did the Supreme Court decline? Is it the same case today in Rivers State? Mr. Professor, teach us well, not nonsense. Hypocrisy is a crime.” @ImaikopEwang
“Prof,some people will twist the judgement and tell you that two scenarios are not the same.” @James Chinnel
“Can you please stop misleading the public. The Lagos case is totally different from Rivers case. How can 3 People be legislating for a state in an assembly of 32 Members? Please put sentiment aside and talk law. You know better!” @Ololade Adebowale
“Can we really look at the crux of the matter Obj held Lagos money based on illegality. This judgement requests that the money be held to stop illegality. My take let the court decide” @Enilowo