Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ‘s political camp erupted in celebration as the Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled in favour of Martins Amaewhule, affirming him as the rightful Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA).
The ruling also declared that Amaewhule’s faction of the Assembly should have passed the 2024 budget.
The Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, however, has not taken the ruling lightly. His administration immediately announced plans to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court and filed for a stay of execution.
Governor Fubara, through a statement signed by Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Danagogo Iboroma (SAN), expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal may have ruled on an issue that was not properly before it.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the governor’s appeal and upheld the judgment of the lower court, which had earlier recognized Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court went further, stating that any expenditures made by Governor Fubara without the appropriation of Amaewhule’s Assembly were illegal.
The court also criticized the governor for what it described as a blatant disregard for court orders.
“The Governor of Rivers State has the passion to disobey court orders, which is unbecoming of someone with good culture,” the court said.
The court also imposed a fine of N500,000 against the governor, reinforcing the view that the appeal was “bereft of merit.”
In response to the court’s decision, Governor Fubara swiftly directed his legal team to pursue an appeal at the Supreme Court and to file for a stay of execution on the ruling.
“The defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others was not an issue for determination in the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Court of Appeal,” the statement by Iboroma read.
It clarified that the case revolved around the 2023 Appropriation Law and the National Assembly’s involvement in taking over legislative functions in Rivers State, not the status of the members themselves.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has urged the people of Rivers State to remain calm as the legal battle moves to the Supreme Court.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, urges the good people of Rivers State to ignore the purveyors of fake news bent on misleading the public,” the statement from the Attorney-General emphasized.
