The Supreme Court has stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation from allocating funds to the Rivers State government until a valid appropriation law is passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A five-member panel of the Apex Court also orders that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members “illegally excluded” from functioning as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly resume immediately.
This decision follows the position of the Court that the action of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, throughout the political saga had been borne out of fear of impeachment. It adds, that is no justification to attack the legislature or act in breach of the rule of law. It clearly faulted the action of the State governor, which includes the demolition of the Assembly building.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Apex Court says to stop Amaewhule and 26 others from functioning on grounds of alleged defection was unlawful, adding that there is now no government in Rivers State, due to the absence of a legislature.
The Supreme Court has described the decision of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2024 budget to a four-member State Assembly as illegal as the House lacked quorum when the presentation was done.
The Apex Court says a four-member House represents 12.5% of the geographical entity, which is Rivers State. It therefore says that doesn’t constitute the right number to conduct legislative business. It further says legislative business cannot be conducted in secret.
