The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule.
DAILY GIST recalls The appellate court had ordered him to re-present the budget to the House of Assembly led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The Court of Appeal had upheld the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, which mandated Governor Fubara to submit the budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly for approval
The court held that Governor Fubara withdrew his counter-affidavit at the lower court in the matter and as such cannot commence an appeal in a matter he did not challenge at the trial stage.
In the unanimous judgement, the appellate court said that Governor Fubara is expected to apply the rule of law and not the rule of might.
The court further says that the situation in Rivers State House of Assembly is an executive dictatorship by the governor and a joke taken too far
Fubara had presented the budget titled: ‘Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity’ of N800 billion to five out of the over 30 lawmakers of the state house of assembly in December 2023.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji of the apex court while dismissing the appeal awarded a cost of two million naira against the governor payable to the Rivers State House of Assembly as the first respondent and Martin Amaewhule as the second respondent.
The dismissal of the appeal by Fubara was hinged on the withdrawal of the suit by his counsel, Yusuf Ali.
