The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget.
The budget had been controversially passed by only four members of the House of Assembly, a move that was ruled as illegal.
In its judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Joseph Oyewole, dismissed the appeal filed by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, against the Federal High Court’s January 22 decision.
The appeal was deemed unmeritorious, with Justice Oyewole stating that the Governor had withdrawn all the legal documents he initially filed to contest the case, effectively conceding to the allegations made by the plaintiffs.
Justice Oyewole emphasized that by failing to challenge the case at the trial court, Governor Fubara could not now attempt to appeal the judgment.
The January 22 ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had described the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill by the five lawmakers, led by Ehie Edison, as an “aberration and illegality.”
Justice Omotosho ruled that the Rivers State Governor must reintroduce the budget to the properly constituted Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, for proper deliberation and passage.
This ruling is a setback for Governor Fubara’s administration, as the N800 billion budget remains void and must now be presented to the full House of Assembly for reconsideration.
Certainly, the time to retrace his steps and walk away from ILL ADVISE.
Governor Fubara has been accused of lawlessness, disobedience to the RULE OF LAW and including the process of the recent illegal local government election in the state.
HE HAS DEFER TO THE PUNDITS WHO CONTINUED TO MISLEAD AND GIVE ILL ADVISE TO HIM.
This political minion still walks the tight rope at his own peril and would be left alone in the dungeon when the chips are down, with the bad advisers disappearing into the thin air when needed.
THE STUPIDITY OF 4 OUT 0F ABOUT 20 PASSING THE BUDGET FOR THE FINANCES OF THE STATE CANNOT BE MORE BRAZEN INSULT TO INTELLIGENCE OF THE SANE. RATHER, FOOLISHNESS.
There would be no IMMUNITY after office when he has to be made to account for the misdeeds of his tenure in office. Obviously, a childish brain.
HE IS NOW IN A DIRE STRAIT AND THE RULE OF LAW MUST IT BE!