A federal high court in Abuja has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers state government.

The court held that monies from the federation account should not be released to the state pending the passage of a lawful appropriation act by a validly constituted house of assembly.

Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding judge, issued the verdict on Wednesday while delivering judgment on a suit filed by the Rivers state house of assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

The Lagos government says Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, did not instruct anyone to file a case against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Tuesday, NAN reported that Sanwo-Olu filed a suit seeking to restrain the EFCC from arresting or prosecuting him after his tenure as Lagos governor.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lawal Pedro, Lagos attorney-general, said the state will investigate “how the case came to be without the knowledge” of the governor.

Pedro said neither the governor nor his aides are under investigation by the EFCC, adding there is no threat of arrest by the anti-graft agency.

“We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter,” the statement reads.

“Also, it is disingenuous for the Governor who enjoys immunity as conferred on him by the constitution and has almost three years ahead of him to brief any lawyer on this kind of matter.

“To the best of my knowledge and my inquiry confirmed that the EFCC is not investigating the governor and has never invited him or threatened arrest of any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise.

“We are currently investigating how the case came to be without our knowledge.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been an exemplar in terms of service delivery, prudent and judicious management of the public resources.

“Therefore, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is busy working assiduously on how to improve the living conditions of all Lagosians does not have anything to fear when he eventually leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027.”

Our attention has been drawn to the news circulating in a section of the media, titled: “Sanwo-Olu Sues EFCC over alleged plan to arrest, prosecute him after tenure.”

We need to clarify that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at no time, sued or briefed any legal practitioner to file a suit on his behalf concerning the above subject matter.

Also, it is disingenuous for the Governor who enjoys immunity as conferred on him by the Constitution and has almost three years ahead of him to brief any lawyer on this kind of matter.

To the best of my knowledge and my inquiry confirmed that the EFCC is not investigating the Governor and has never invited him or threatened arrest of any member of his staff, domestic or otherwise.

We are currently investigating how the case came to be without our knowledge.

For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been an exemplar in terms of service delivery, prudent and judicious management of the public resources.

Therefore, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is busy working assiduously on how to improve the living conditions of all Lagosians does not have anything to fear when he eventually leaves office at the end of his tenure in May 2027.

We, therefore, enjoin media organisations to be wary of the kind of reports they entertain and publish on their respected platforms in order not to mislead the public.

Lawal Pedro, SAN

Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice