Additionally, the Supreme Court dismissed every local government chairperson chosen by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in the October 2024 election.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other organizations are prohibited by the Supreme Court from disbursing monies to the Rivers State government unless they rid themselves of what the court characterizes as egregious disregard for court orders.
The five-member court panel unanimously rejected Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cross-appeal contesting the legitimacy of the House of Assembly, which was presided over by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, in a one-hour, thirty-six-minute ruling.
In dismissing Governor Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
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.
