Victor Ezeja
The Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and other agencies to stop releasing funds to the Rivers State government.
It said staus quo can only return when the Rivers House of Assembly is properly constituted by the 1999 Constitution.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe apex court also recognised the Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly faction as valid members of the house.
In a judgement delivered by a five-man panel of the court led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, on Friday, 28 February 2025, the apex court dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the validity of the House of Assembly, presided over by Martin Amaewhule, as the Speaker.
The court held that it is an aberration for Governor Fubara to have purportedly presented an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly thereby denying twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation in a blatant violation of a court order mandating him (Fubara) to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.
REA ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Supreme Court Strikes Out Gov Fubara’s Appeal Against Ruling On 2024 Budget
The court further ruled that Governor Fubara’s alleged presentation of an appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly was abnormal, depriving twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation in violation of a court order requiring him to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before an Assembly that was duly constituted and presided over by Amaewhule.
READ ALSO: Fubara Moves To Appeal Judgment On Rivers 2024 Budget At Supreme Court
Court Sacks Newly Elected LG Chairmen
In another development, the Supreme Court sacked the newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State.
The apex Court in a judgment delivered by Justice Jamil Tukur declared the local government election conducted on the 5th of October 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission invalid.
The court said the exercise grossly violated the Electoral Act, adding that the RSIEC’s decision to continue voter registration after announcing an election date is deemed invalid due to its significant noncompliance with the Electoral Act and its rules.
Justice Tukur held that processes leading to the conduct of a local government election were abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act.
