Rivers 2024 Budget: Conflicting Court Orders Sparks Protest

The dispute in Rivers State escalates as two Federal High Courts, in Abuja in their judgement issued conflicting orders on the 2024 budget signed into Law by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

VerseNews earlier reported that a Federal High Court nullified the Rivers 2024 Appropriation Bill of N800.3 billion that had been passed by a faction of the House of Assembly, led by former Speaker, Edison Ehie, and signed into law by Fubara.

It ordered the governor to re-present the budget to the Mr. Martin Amaewhule-led House.

The court, in the judgment by Justice James Omotosho, held that the budget was invalid as it was not properly presented before the Rivers State House of Assembly, as required by the law.

While recognising Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly, the court ordered governor Fubara to re-present the budget to the legislative house for approval.

The court faulted governor Fubara for meddling in the affairs of the state’s legislative organ, saying he 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.

Defendants in the suit were; the National Assembly, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker, the House Majority Leader, House Minority Leader, as well as the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Others were the governor of Rivers State, Attorney-General of Rivers, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant-General of Rivers, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police, and Edison Ehie.

The Rivers House of Assembly and its Speaker, Amaewhule, were the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs in the matter.

The conflicting order

However, a few hours later, another court ordered all the parties in the matter to maintain status quo, pending the determination of an ex-parte motion that six elders of the state filed to stop Governor Fubara from re-presenting the 2024 budget before the Amaewhule-led faction of the Assembly.

Justice J. O. Abdulmalik ordered substituted service of the application on all the defendants, and adjourned the matter till February 28, for hearing.

The plaintiffs in the matter led by a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Bonny State Constituency, Mr. Victor Jumbo, are Senator Bennett Birabi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs and Emmanuel Deinma.

They had through their team of lawyers led by Mr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, prayed the court to declare the seats of 27 lawmakers in the state that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, vacant.

Meanwhile, asked if the governor will appeal the earlier judgment, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Senibo Joe Johnson, said: “The judgment just came today. Our legal team will look at it and advise appropriately.”