The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which recognized Hon. Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji dismissed the appeal, marked SC/CV/1071/2024, after Governor Fubara’s legal team, headed by Yusuf Ali, SAN, requested its withdrawal. Ali stated that the decision was influenced by recent developments that rendered the case irrelevant.
Despite withdrawing the appeal, the respondents, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and J.B. Daudu, SAN, requested the court to award costs. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and ordered Fubara to pay N4 million in legal costs.
The dispute dates back to October 2024, when the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier Federal High Court ruling that invalidated the 2024 Rivers State budget, citing procedural irregularities. The appellate court ruled that Fubara violated the 1999 Constitution by presenting the budget to only four lawmakers rather than the full 31-member House.
The crisis stemmed from political tensions between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The Assembly split into two factions, with one led by Amaewhule, loyal to Wike, and the other by Edison Ehie, supporting Fubara. The Ehie-led group declared the seats of Amaewhule’s faction vacant, passed the budget, and secured the governor’s approval.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, Fubara and Wike signed a peace deal reinstating Amaewhule as Speaker. Ehie withdrew from the Assembly, and Fubara pulled out of the legal battle. However, the pro-Wike lawmakers proceeded with their case, leading to the Supreme Court’s final dismissal of Fubara’s appeal.
The courts have now restrained Fubara from interfering with Assembly operations and directed the release of withheld legislative funds, marking a legal victory for the Amaewhule-led lawmakers.
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