The Supreme Court has affirmed the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule as the rightful and legally constituted legislative body in the state. A five-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, delivered the ruling with a lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.
In its ruling, the apex court also issued an injunction barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing any further budgetary allocations to Rivers State until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a legally constituted House of Assembly.
The court’s unanimous decision on Friday further directed that Amaewhule and the other 26 members of the assembly, who had been accused of defection, should be allowed to resume their legislative duties without interference.
Additionally, the Supreme Court ordered that all members of the House of Assembly should be permitted to resume their normal legislative functions without any hindrance.
Justice Agim criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his actions, accusing him of unlawfully undermining the Rivers government due to his fear of impeachment moves. The court set aside an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had determined that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over cases involving funds allocated to Rivers State.
The panel also imposed a cost of N5 million against Governor Fubara and the Rivers State Government, to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule.
