Nigeria, March 1 -- The Rivers State Government has insisted that the issue of defection of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers was not before the Supreme Court for determination.

Nigeria's highest court earlier today restored the pro-Wike lawmakers as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court, in a unanimous decision, also stopped the federal government from paying allocation to the oil-rich state, which has been in crisis since late 2023.

The state government in its reaction to the court decision said the issue of defection was not a matter before the Supreme Court for determination.

The State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, in a statement on Friday said the matter of defection was pending before a ...