Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA has condemned recent Federal High Court judgments, calling for visa restrictions on judges allegedly involved in issuing rulings perceived as politically motivated.
The group cited the judgment halting federal allocations to Rivers State as alarming, calling for 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’s statement, signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, follows Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s ruling to halted financial allocations to Rivers State.
The group equated the judgement to a “constitutional coup” that disrupts Nigeria’s democracy.
HURIWA argued that such judgements are reminiscent of previous politically charged decisions, such as the Imo State governorship verdict that led to a visa ban on Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (now the Chief Justice of Nigeria).
This recent ruling, according to HURIWA, “effectively disregards 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”.
According to reports, the lawsuit, initiated by a faction within the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, claims the power to halt funds distribution within the state.
HURIWA said this was a strategic attempt to undermine Governor Fubara’s administration through judicial means.
According to HURIWA, “such ‘partisan’ judgements blatantly contradict principles of judicial impartiality, as the judiciary should uphold constitutional protections rather than favor 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,” HURIWA stated.
“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 governor without due process.”