The Supreme Court has upheld a federal high court’s decision to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to the Rivers State government.
This decision, delivered on Friday, sends shockwaves through the already tense political climate in the state and raises serious questions about governance and legality.
At the heart of this battle lies a fierce rift between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly; a faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Fubara’s predecessor. The Supreme Court’s judgment has now thrown its weight behind the Amaewhule-led group, ordering them and other elected members of the House to resume legislative sittings immediately.
The ruling was delivered by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, with Justice Emmanuel Agim reading the lead judgment. The court was unsparing in its criticism of the Abuja Court of Appeal, which had earlier set aside the federal high court’s decision.
In a clear and unequivocal statement, the apex court affirmed that the 27 lawmakers accused of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) remain valid members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, at least until the final determination of the suit challenging their status.
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“The members of the Rivers state house of assembly who allegedly defected are still legitimate members of the house and have the power to conduct the business of the assembly,” Agim declared.
He went further, discrediting any other faction attempting to operate outside the Amaewhule-led group, stating that their actions were “null and void.”
This legal battle stems from Governor Fubara’s refusal to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill before the Amaewhule-led Assembly. The governor’s decision effectively sidelined the majority of the house, with only four of the 32 members purportedly continuing legislative functions. Justice Agim described this as “an act of indiscipline bordering on excessive use of power” and “a joke taken too far which has no place in a democracy.”
Agim didn’t mince words when addressing Fubara’s apparent fear of impeachment. “The governor’s fear of impeachment is no justification for destroying a legitimate democratic institution,” he stated, emphasizing that governance cannot thrive on fear and unilateral action.
In a move with immediate financial implications, the Supreme Court ordered the CBN and the accountant-general of the federation to stop the release of funds, revenue, and all financial allocations to the Rivers State Government until a “legitimate budget” is presented and approved by the Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.
This decision could place significant strain on the state’s ability to finance ongoing projects and meet administrative obligations; a development that may have far-reaching consequences for the people of Rivers State.
Additionally, the court awarded a N5 million cost against Governor Fubara, adding a financial penalty to the political blow.
Source: Ripples