The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the re-presentation of the 2024 budget before the 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji dismissed the appeal after Governor Fubara, through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), formally withdrew the case, citing that “events had overtaken” the suit.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal. Consequently, the Supreme Court struck out the case and awarded N4 million in costs against Governor Fubara, payable to the Assembly and its Speaker.
Following the ruling, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze stated that the 27 lawmakers now have full authority to resume their legislative functions. He emphasized that all actions taken by Governor Fubara in their absence, including the approval of the 2024 and 2025 budgets by only three lawmakers, are legally void.
This Supreme Court decision follows an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal on October 10, 2024, which also dismissed Fubara’s appeal on the matter. Additionally, on January 22, 2024, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four pro-Fubara lawmakers, describing their actions as unconstitutional.
The court had ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the budget before the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly, affirming the legitimacy of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers.
Justice Omotosho had previously issued an order restraining Governor Fubara from interfering with the legislative duties of the 27 lawmakers, removing the Assembly Clerk, or withholding funds allocated to the House. However, while the order was still in effect, Governor Fubara presented the state budget to the four lawmakers loyal to him and allegedly blocked the pro-Wike legislators by demolishing parts of the Assembly complex.
In his final ruling, Justice Omotosho declared that all legislative actions taken by the four lawmakers were null and void. He also directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to deploy officers to the Assembly complex to ensure legislative activities resumed without interference.
With the Supreme Court’s latest ruling, Governor Fubara is now compelled to comply with the lower court’s directive and allow the 27 lawmakers to function fully within the Assembly.
The ruling is expected to further deepen the political rift in Rivers State as the power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, intensifies. The decision also strengthens the position of the pro-Wike lawmakers, who now have the judiciary’s backing to reclaim control of the legislative process.
As the situation unfolds, political observers anticipate further developments in the ongoing battle for control of the Rivers State government.
