Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a stern warning to the judiciary, urging them not to “set Rivers on fire” following a recent Federal High Court judgment that ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to halt all payments to Rivers State.

Atiku expressed concern that some elements within the Bola Tinubu administration are manipulating the judiciary, citing the Court of Appeal’s declaration that Rivers State’s 2024 budget was illegal due to being passed by an inchoate assembly.

Rivers State accounts for almost 25% of Nigeria’s oil assets, making stability crucial

Atiku questioned the timing of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik’s order, given that Rivers State had already appealed the Court of Appeal’s judgment. He also referenced a warning by Femi Falana, a prominent lawyer, about potential judicial compromise after judges received house gifts in Abuja.

Despite praising the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for summoning judges involved in the Rivers State cases, Atiku emphasized the need for accountability to restore the judiciary’s integrity.

Nigeria is descending into chaos, with conflicting court orders and judges being influenced by external factors

The former Vice President criticized the judiciary’s role in fostering political crises, citing examples such as the Kano State emirship dispute and Rivers State’s election prevention. He warned that Nigeria is descending into chaos, with conflicting court orders and judges being influenced by external factors.

Atiku urged President Tinubu to prioritize Nigeria’s interests over his 2027 ambitions, particularly given the country’s economic crisis, exacerbated by vandalism and banditry. Rivers State accounts for almost 25% of Nigeria’s oil assets, making stability crucial.

Atiku concluded by calling on the Nigerian judiciary to restore its image before it’s too late, emphasizing the need to prevent Nigeria from descending into a state of chaos where life is “short, nasty and brutish.”