The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, a three-member panel dismissed an appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stating it lacked merit.
The appellate court upheld a January 22 ruling from the Federal High Court, which annulled the 2024 N800 million Rivers State budget on the grounds that it was not properly presented to the full Assembly, as mandated by law.
The court criticized Governor Fubara for failing to comply with the rule of law, noting that presenting the 2024 Appropriation Bill to only four out of the 31 Assembly members was a significant breach of the 1999 Constitution.
Additionally, the court observed that Fubara’s withdrawal of a counter-affidavit in response to a suit from the Amaewhule-led lawmakers indicated his acceptance of their claims regarding their legitimacy in the Assembly.
