The Nigerian government has confirmed the suspension of the October Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue payment to Rivers State amid the ongoing conflict between Governor Simi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Bawa Mokwa, the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), disclosed this on Friday, stating that the action follows a court order barring the disbursement.

The development comes after the Federal Government approved the disbursement of ₦1.1411 trillion for October 2024 FAAC revenue to the federal, state, and local governments. However, reports emerged that Rivers State's allocation was withheld due to a court injunction preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the federal government from releasing the funds.

Mokwa confirmed the OAGF's compliance with the court order, noting that the disbursement process for other states was still ongoing. "The October 2024 FAAC has not yet been distributed. However, the Federal Government will obey the court order regarding Rivers State’s allocation unless a contrary order is issued," he said.

The legal injunction was issued on October 30 by Justice Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court. It stemmed from a case filed by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule. The faction argued that the state executive, under Governor Fubara, failed to comply with a court directive to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill to the Amaewhule-led assembly faction.

The dispute is part of a broader political crisis in Rivers State, fueled by the fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. This rift has led to significant unrest in the state, which is a key player in Nigeria’s oil sector.