A member of the House of Representatives and lawyer, Mr. Solomon Bob, has stated that the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal upholds the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which affirmed the High Court’s judgment on the Rivers State budget presentation.
The Supreme Court had rejected Fubara’s appeal against the Appeal Court’s verdict, which had earlier upheld a Federal High Court ruling mandating the governor to present the state’s 2024 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Bob, who represents Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, argued that with the Supreme Court’s decision, the ruling remains binding and extends its implications to the 2025 state budget.
“On January 10, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal against the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which had upheld Justice Joseph Omotosho’s ruling in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023,” Bob stated.
He explained that Justice Omotosho’s ruling, delivered on January 22, 2024, addressed key issues at the heart of the political crisis in Rivers State, including the leadership and membership of the State House of Assembly and the governor’s obligation to present the state budget before the legislature.
“One of the court’s orders specifically restrains the 11th defendant, Governor Fubara, from making any requests, presentations, or nominations before the Rivers State House of Assembly unless it is under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule,” Bob emphasized.
He further clarified that the judgment does not apply solely to the 2024 budget but extends to all future budget presentations, including that of 2025, as well as any other legislative requests or nominations from the governor.
Bob also criticized Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, for allegedly misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s decision during a recent television interview. “The ink on the Supreme Court’s ruling had barely dried when Mr. Falana appeared on TV to offer yet another misleading interpretation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has urged Governor Fubara and other stakeholders to engage constructively with the duly recognized Rivers State House of Assembly to foster stability and progress.
In a communiqué signed by its Director General, Busari Sarafadeen, on behalf of Chairman Adebo Ogundoyin, the conference reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly, as recognized by judicial rulings.
The conference stressed that respect for judicial decisions and institutional harmony is crucial for effective governance.
Additionally, regarding the recent leadership change in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the conference acknowledged the constitutional provisions guiding the removal of presiding officers and emphasized that such processes must strictly adhere to the Constitution and relevant laws.
