The court in Abuja has made an important decision involving the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. They have rejected his appeal about an N800 billion budget issue. This budget was approved by a group led by Edison Ehie at the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the governor had signed it into law.
A group of judges at the Appeal Court threw out the governor’s appeal on October 10, 2024.
Earlier, in January 2024, a lower court said yes to what Speaker Martin Amaewhule and the Rivers State House of Assembly wanted. They asked the court to stop the governor from making things hard for them and from messing with their work.
What Happened in the First Court?
Back in January, Judge James Omotosho said the actions taken by Edison Ehie and a few others in passing that budget were not valid. Judge Omotosho also said that Martin Amaewhule is the real speaker of the Rivers State Assembly.
Amaewhule’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze, told the court that the governor shouldn’t mess with what the assembly does. It’s like everyone having their own job—like teachers, police, and doctors shouldn’t swap jobs—and he said the governor should not switch roles with the assembly.
Njemanze asked the court to stop the governor from taking the assembly’s money or from stopping their salaries. He wanted to make sure all this money goes to where it’s supposed to go, to the speaker and other members.
The judge noticed that the governor’s lawyers backed away from defending against these claims. This seemed like the governor accepted what the lawmakers said.
The judge also pointed out that only five people in the assembly had passed this huge budget, which wasn’t right. Usually, more people should agree on such big things.
All these issues led the judge to say that the governor should not be stopping the assembly from doing its job, like making good rules and laws for everyone in the state.
The judge told the governor he cannot hold back the assembly’s money because all groups need funds to function properly. He also told the National Assembly not to listen to the governor’s requests about these issues.
What Did the Appeal Court Say?
After the first court’s decision, people made their appeals. The governor and his team weren’t happy, but the judges at the Appeal Court noticed he had removed his defenses, so they said his complaint didn’t have any real support.
The court said the governor had allowed only a small group to pass the budget, which is not okay since it goes against the rules everyone agreed to back in 1999.
The judges explained that the governor’s mistakes brought these problems upon him and signing something that isn’t properly agreed upon is not a good action.
They agreed with the trial court’s decision and told the governor he must pay N500,000 each to over ten people affected by this issue.
Important Things to Remember
At the end of 2023, a big problem started in Rivers State. Governor Fubara showed an N800 billion money plan to others at Government House, not in the usual assembly building because it got knocked down.
Edison Ehie and a few with him approved the money plan, and the governor signed it, thinking it would help grow the economy and make life better for people.
But, there was trouble in the assembly, especially since a group wanted to remove the governor. This entire story shows how important rules and agreements are in helping everyone work together smoothly.