The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, affirmed the January 22 judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the State House of Assembly.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Joseph Oyewole on behalf of a three-member panel of Justices, the court held that the appeal filed by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, against the January 22 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court lacked merit and was accordingly dismissed.
Justice Oyewole stated that having failed to challenge the case at the trial court—by withdrawing all the documents filed against the suit—Governor Fubara could not now seek to appeal the judgment.
The court also awarded a cost of N500,000 against the appellant, to be paid to the defendants in the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024.
It would be recalled that the trial court had nullified the 2024 Rivers budget passed by pro-Fubara lawmakers and set aside the presentation and passage of the Rivers State 2024 budget. The court’s judgment also ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.
The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, affirming Martins Amaehwule as the rightful Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, had challenged the judgement of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja, which affirmed Amaehwule’s leadership.
This ruling is a victory for the camp of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who has been at odds with Governor Fubara.
Governor Fubara has also been ordered to re-present the 2024 budget to the Amaehwule-led House of Assembly.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune except headline with additional report
