The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the re-presentation of the 2024 budget before the 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji after Fubara, through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), dramatically withdrew the appeal. The governor cited that events had overtaken his case, prompting the court to dismiss it.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal. Consequently, the Supreme Court awarded a N4 million cost against Fubara, to be paid to the House of Assembly and Amaewhule.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze stated that the dismissal had cleared the way for the 27 lawmakers to fully reclaim their positions in the Assembly.
He emphasized that all actions taken by Governor Fubara in the absence of the lawmakers—including the presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets before only three legislators—had now been rendered invalid.
The dispute between Fubara and the lawmakers began after a political crisis in Rivers State led to a division in the Assembly. The 27 lawmakers, aligned with Wike, had relocated their sittings and declared the governor’s actions unconstitutional.
This Supreme Court ruling follows a previous judgment by the Court of Appeal on October 10, 2024, which had similarly dismissed Fubara’s case, reinforcing the lawmakers’ authority in the Assembly.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
