Two separate courts in Abuja on Monday issued contradicting verdicts regarding the ongoing political battle in Rivers State.
Earlier in the day, one of the courts declared the N800.3 billion budget for 2024 passed by a splinter group of the state Assembly, led by former Speaker Edison Ehie, was illegal. This implied that Governor Fubara was to present the budget again, but this time to the Assembly headed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, which the court endorsed.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court also cautioned Fubara to refrain from exceeding his authority. According to the judge, neither the governor nor members of the Rivers State Public Service are authorised to interfere with the affairs of the River State House of Assembly and its Speaker. Omotosho added that the governor acted like a tyrant when he demolished the Rivers State Assembly complex and also withheld funds that are standing to the credit of the legislative House.
However, just hours later, a different court ordered all parties to maintain status quo, that is, keep things as they are until a separate case is heard. This new case, filed by six state elders, is hoping to stop the governor from presenting the budget to Amaewhule’s Assembly.
Mr. Victor Jumbo, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Bonny State Constituency, leads the plaintiffs, including Senator Bennett Birabi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs, and Emmanuel Deinma. Their legal team, led by Mr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, has requested the court to declare the seats of 27 lawmakers in the state who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as vacant.
The judge, Justice J. O. Abdulmalik, thereafter gave until February 28th for response. Substituted service of the application was also ordered on all the defendants.
