Atiku to Judiciary: Protect Public Trust in Rivers State

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the judiciary’s role in escalating tensions in Rivers State following a recent Federal High Court decision in Abuja. The court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend all payments to Rivers State, a ruling that Abubakar warns may erode public confidence in the judicial system.

In a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Abubakar criticized what he described as actions by figures close to the Federal Government working behind the scenes.

He questioned the rationale behind Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s decision to issue the order, given that the Rivers State Government has already challenged a prior ruling by the Court of Appeal, which invalidated the state’s 2024 budget. “Last week, the Court of Appeal declared the Rivers State budget illegal, citing its passage by an incomplete assembly. The court directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the budget,” Atiku said.

Abubakar added that the Rivers State Government has filed an appeal to bring the matter before the Supreme Court. However, he expressed concern that certain elements within President Bola Tinubu’s administration had obtained a judgment intended to undermine the Supreme Court’s authority.

Referring to recent warnings from human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who had alerted the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, of potential ethical breaches involving judiciary officials, Abubakar noted that these warnings were disregarded.

He praised the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for calling judges handling the Rivers State cases to order, urging that any judicial misconduct be addressed to restore the judiciary’s reputation.

The former Vice President lamented what he called the judiciary’s growing role in stoking political conflicts, drawing parallels with the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election. “From the emirship dispute in Kano to the Rivers issue, our courts are increasingly preventing elections from occurring, fostering instability,” he said.

Abubakar warned that Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary is waning as conflicting judgments proliferate and allegations of inducements continue. “Foreign investors will avoid environments where judgments are seen as commodities for sale,” he cautioned.

He also called on President Tinubu to prioritize Nigeria’s stability over personal political ambitions, noting that Rivers State holds nearly 25% of the country’s oil resources, making its stability essential amid economic struggles fueled by vandalism and banditry.

In conclusion, Abubakar appealed to the judiciary to reclaim its image as the “last hope of the common man” before public trust in its role is irreparably damaged.