Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Falana described the judgment as a vital reinforcement of Nigeria’s federalism as enshrined in the Constitution.
Citing Daily Post, Falana noted that recent court decisions—including the validation of Rivers State’s local government elections and the resolution of the revenue allocation case—highlight the constitutional principle of federalism.
He explained that the Court of Appeal clarified that federal institutions or officials cannot be entangled in purely state matters such as revenue allocation or local government elections, as this does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Hamman Barka, ruled that the issue of Rivers State’s funds was outside the Federal High Court’s purview. The panel overturned Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s earlier decision, which had restricted Rivers State from accessing its federal allocations, emphasizing that the lower court had overreached by attempting to control the state’s financial affairs.
Falana concluded that the ruling is a landmark in preserving the autonomy of states, ensuring that matters of state governance remain under the jurisdiction of state courts, thereby strengthening the foundations of Nigeria’s federal structure.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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