River State Governor Siminalayi Fubura would seem to be in a dicey political situation, as the Supreme Court has barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court describes as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
The Supreme Court also removed all the local government chairmen elected in the October 2024 election conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission while also asking Amaewhule to resume sitting with all elected members of Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a one-hour, thirty-six-minute judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel of the court unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In violation of a court order requiring him to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a legitimately constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule, the court ruled that Governor Fubara’s alleged presentation of an appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly was abnormal, depriving twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation.
The Supreme Court further ruled that Governor Fubara’s activities regarding the purported defection of twenty-eight members of the Rivers Assembly constituted brigandage and dictatorship, with the intention of impeding the House’s ability to carry out its lawful duties under Speaker Amaewhule.
The court further ruled that Governor Fubara’s demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex constituted an act of indiscipline that verged on the overuse of executive power in order to thwart the Assembly’s meeting under Amaewhule.
Delivering another judgement, the Supreme Court declared the local government election conducted on the 5th of October 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission invalid.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court declared the election invalid for grossly violating the Electoral Act.
As the electoral body continued voter registration after declaring an election date, Justice Tukur read the ruling and declared the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s action null and void for failing to substantially comply with the Electoral Act and guidelines.
In a blatant disregard for Section 150 of the Electoral Act, the court ruled that procedures leading up to a local government election were shortened.
