The Supreme Court has issued a ruling barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other related agencies from releasing any funds to the government of Rivers State until it complies with court orders. This decision follows what the court deems as Rivers State’s flagrant disobedience to legal directives.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel unanimously dismissed a cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who had challenged the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule. The court ordered Amaewhule to immediately resume his duties with other elected members of the Assembly.
The judgement criticized Governor Fubara for presenting an appropriation bill to a House with only four members, depriving twenty-eight constituencies of representation. This act was deemed a violation of a court order that mandated the governor to present the 2024 appropriation bill before a properly constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.
The court further condemned Governor Fubara’s actions, including the alleged defection of twenty-eight members of the House, as acts of dictatorship and brigandage aimed at preventing the Assembly from fulfilling its functions under Amaewhule’s leadership. Additionally, the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Fubara was labeled as an excessive misuse of executive power to undermine the Assembly’s operations.
Supreme Court Invalidation of Rivers State Local Government Election
In a separate case, the Supreme Court declared the Rivers State local government election held on October 5, 2024, invalid. Justice Jamilu Tukur delivered the judgement, citing gross violations of the Electoral Act by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The court pointed out that the electoral body continued voter registration even after announcing the election date, which it considered a breach of electoral procedures.
The court ruled that the actions of RSIEC lacked substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, rendering the election void. This decision is expected to have significant implications for the governance of local governments in the state.
Rivers State Assembly Crisis: A Legacy of Political Feuds
The political crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly can be traced to tensions between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara. The fallout led to the fragmentation of the Assembly, with one faction loyal to Wike and another supporting Fubara. This division resulted in parallel sittings, impeachment attempts, the demolition of the Assembly complex, and a series of resignations of pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.
In October 2024, the Court of Appeal had upheld a Federal High Court ruling that set aside a budget of ₦800 billion passed by a faction of the Assembly led by Edison Ehie. The court dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal, emphasizing that he could not appeal a matter in which he had failed to present a counter-affidavit at the trial stage.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling reflects the ongoing judicial interventions in resolving the political crisis in Rivers State, calling for adherence to the rule of law over the use of executive might.
