…Ex-Militants Oppose Potential Court Interference in LG Allocations

By Daniel Abia

The Niger Delta Development Force (NDDF), a militant group in the Niger Delta, has issued a warning to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning against alleged plans by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to leverage Abuja courts to halt revenue allocations meant for the 23 Local Government Councils (LGAs) in Rivers State.

The NDDF claims that any ruling blocking these funds would provoke a severe backlash, potentially reviving hostilities that plagued the region and led to extensive damage to oil installations, which are vital to the national economy.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, NDDF spokesperson Justin Alabraba cautioned that any judgment from an Abuja court denying Rivers LGAs their allocations could prompt the destruction of strategic oil facilities across the Niger Delta. He asserted that if such a judgment is issued, the group would respond with shutdowns of major oil pipelines, warning, “Nyesom Wike cannot be using Tinubu’s powers to cause problems in Rivers State without any consequences.”

Alabraba also warned of broader destabilization across the Niger Delta should Rivers State be targeted, as it serves as the region’s headquarters. He reiterated that the NDDF would not tolerate what it views as attempts by Wike, through his influence in Abuja, to interfere in local governance, and urged judicial authorities to consider the serious consequences of their rulings.

Reports indicate that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, a judge allegedly aligned with Wike, is set to deliver a ruling on Monday, potentially halting statutory allocations to Rivers LGAs—a claim that Justice Abdulmalik has previously denied. The NDDF is adamant that any attempt to restrict these funds will not be tolerated and has accused Wike of utilizing federal power to disrupt governance in Rivers State, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.