Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the request by the Rivers State Government to stay proceedings in a suit that sought to stop the allocation of funds to all local government areas in Rivers State.

The judge held that the application by Goddy Uche, SAN, on behalf of the Rivers State Government, was frivolous, vexatious, unjustified and malicious.

The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has dragged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to court, praying for the withholding of fund allocation to Rivers local governments.

The Rivers State government opposed the hearing of the case in Abuja but was dismissed by the high court.

This prompted the state government to approach the Appellate Court to intervene in the matter.

The state government filed an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1197/2024 and filed a motion asking the Federal High Court to stay the proceedings pending disposal of its appeal.

However, after taking arguments from counsel to the state government and Joseph Daudu, SAN, for the two applicants, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the application to stay the proceedings on the ground that it was meritless and malicious.

The court insisted on continuing with the trial.