The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, a three-member panel dismissed an appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing that it lacked merit.
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The court upheld the January 22 ruling of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which nullified the 2024 N800 billion Rivers State budget.
The budget had been passed in violation of the law, as it was not properly presented before the full House of Assembly.
The court criticized Governor Fubara for failing to follow the rule of law, particularly for presenting the 2024 Appropriation Bill to only four out of the 31 members of the Assembly. This action was deemed a serious breach of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Furthermore, the court noted that Fubara’s withdrawal of the counter-affidavit he had initially filed against a suit brought by the Amaewhule-led lawmakers suggested his implicit agreement with the claims against him.
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