Court Of Appeal Dismisses Governor Fubara’s Appeal On Rivers State Budget Dispute.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging a lower court ruling that nullified the passage of the state’s N800 billion 2024 budget. The decision was delivered on Thursday by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Oyewole, who upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a unanimous decision, the court affirmed the January 22 ruling by Justice James Omotosho, which nullified the passage of the budget by four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the Edison Ehie faction. Justice Oyewole ruled that the appeal lacked merit, noting that Governor Fubara had withdrawn his counter-affidavits and other documents filed at the lower court, making it improper to appeal a matter that had been previously terminated.
The Court of Appeal also reiterated that Fubara must now represent the budget to the legitimate Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly for reconsideration.
In addition, the court ordered Governor Fubara to pay each of the 13 respondents involved in the case the sum of ₦500,000.
The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing political and legal disputes within the Rivers State Assembly, emphasising the importance of proper legislative processes in state governance.
