The Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, seeking the removal of 27 members of the State House of Assembly over their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji dismissed the case after Fubara, through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), withdrew the appeal, citing that events had overtaken the matter.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal request. Consequently, the Supreme Court struck out the suit and ordered Fubara to pay N4 million in costs to the Assembly and its Speaker.
Following the court’s decision, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze stated that the ruling had effectively cleared the path for the 27 lawmakers to fully resume their legislative functions.
The development means that actions taken by Governor Fubara in the absence of the 27 lawmakers, including the presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to only three legislators, are now deemed invalid.
The Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed Fubara’s appeal on the same issue on October 10, 2024, while the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, had nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four lawmakers loyal to the governor.
Justice Omotosho had ruled that the governor’s actions, including presenting the budget without the majority of the lawmakers, partially demolishing the Assembly complex, and withholding funds, were unlawful. He also ordered the immediate reinstatement of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Assembly and directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to deploy security operatives to the legislative complex.
The Supreme Court’s decision further reinforces the legal standing of the pro-Wike legislators, effectively settling the political dispute in the Rivers State Assembly.
Post a Comment