Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the judgement halting federal allocations to Rivers State.
The Association called on international embassies, including those of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, to impose travel restrictions on the judges involved in the rulings.
HURIWA equated the judgement to a “constitutional coup” that disrupts Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking via a statement by signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group argued that the verdicts contradict a longstanding Supreme Court principle affirming that statutory allocations to states cannot be withheld by federal authorities.
It insisted that “the judgement violates established legal precedence, putting Rivers State and Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration at risk of political destabilization”.
HURIWA said this was a strategic attempt to undermine Fubara’s administration through judicial means.
The Association said, “such ‘partisan’ judgements blatantly contradict principles of judicial impartiality, as the judiciary should uphold constitutional protections rather than favour specific political agendas”.
HURIWA emphasized the potential for civil unrest if financial allocations are withheld from Rivers State, as groups within the region have reportedly issued warnings threatening to disrupt critical infrastructure, including oil pipelines, in retaliation.
The group stressed that the court’s ruling aggravates existing tensions and could incite further instability in the region.
“The judgement issued is like dousing the flames of political discord in Rivers State with gasoline, in what appears to be a deliberate push toward civil instability.
“Justice Abdulmalik’s decision delegitimizes the duly elected administration of Governor Fubara, and as such, is unconstitutional and akin to a plot to forcefully remove the governdue process.” HURIWA stated.
