A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has dismissed an appeal filed by Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the leadership of the Rivers House of Assembly under Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Abba-Aji imposed a cost of ₦2 million against Governor Fubara, payable to the Rivers Assembly as the first respondent and Speaker Martin Amaewhule as the second respondent.
The court’s decision to dismiss the appeal followed the withdrawal of the suit by Fubara’s legal counsel, Yusuf Ali.
With this ruling, the leadership structure of the Rivers Assembly under Amaewhule remains intact.
A statement Monday by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike stated that Fubara’s decision to withdraw the appeal was an admission of wrongdoing.
He wrote: “Governor Fubara of Rivers State has withdrawn his appeal No. SC/CV/1071/2024 against the Appeal Court judgment declaring the 2024 Budget of the State illegal and ordering him to present the budget to the House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The Appeal Court had upheld the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, which directed the governor to re-present the budget to the Assembly under Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
By withdrawing the appeal, Governor Fubara has effectively accepted both the lower and appellate courts’ decisions, which deemed the initial budget presentation to three lawmakers as unlawful.”
As of the time of this report, Governor Fubara’s camp has yet to issue an official statement regarding the development.
