Tinubu To Release Withheld Rivers State Funds To Sole Administrator After Fubara’s Suspension

Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is willing to release the withheld allocation of Rivers State to the newly appointed Sole Administrator of the state.

According to Vanguard, he made this statement while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

When asked whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state in light of the latest developments, the minister confirmed that the funds would be released if the administrator requested it.

He added, “It will be in order for the release of that fund, as the extraordinary situation has moved them beyond the normal course of events.”

He also defended President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the state.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the House of Assembly members, citing instability in the state. However, his actions have been met with widespread criticism.

Tinubu explained that the ongoing crisis had paralysed governance in Rivers State, saying, “With the crisis persisting, democratic governance, which we have all fought for over the years, cannot thrive in a way that benefits the people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis began, and the people have been deprived of the dividends of democracy.”

He blamed Governor Fubara for demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly, calling the action unjustifiable. He further stated that interventions by prominent figures had failed to resolve the crisis.

Tinubu also accused Governor Fubara of unconstitutional acts and a disregard for the rule of law:

“On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled on about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State. The court's judgment clearly highlighted the unconstitutional acts and the disregard for the rule of law committed by the Governor of Rivers State, as evidenced in the case,” he said.

The President further noted that the Supreme Court had emphasised the absence of a functional government in Rivers State, saying, “A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up a state government under the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“In this case, the head of the executive arm has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without it, acting like a despot. As things stand, there is no government in Rivers State.”

Before declaring a state of emergency, Tinubu accused Governor Fubara of failing to disown militants who had vowed to destroy pipelines in the state: