Supreme Court halts Rivers’ monthly allocations
Wike declares end of impunity in Rivers**
Governor Fubara assesses next steps**
APC’s Eze calls it a declaration of war on Rivers**
On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a significant setback to Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara by reinstating a prior ruling that prohibits the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing monthly statutory allocations to the state. In a separate ruling, the court annulled the results of the Local Government Elections held on October 5, 2024, and directed the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Hon. Martins Amaewhule, loyal to former governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, to resume legislative activities immediately.
The Supreme Court’s decisions have sparked varied reactions across the political landscape in Rivers.
Wike hailed the ruling as a victory against impunity, asserting that Fubara’s administration has effectively collapsed, rendering his actions and appointments void. In contrast, Governor Fubara stated that his administration would thoroughly evaluate the implications of the court’s decisions before determining the best course of action for the state. Meanwhile, APC chieftain Eze Chukwuemeka Eze condemned the court’s ruling, labeling it a declaration of war against Rivers.
Details of the Supreme Court Judgments
A five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji unanimously criticized the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for overturning the original order that halted the release of funds to Rivers. The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Federal High Court in Abuja had jurisdiction to hear the case brought by the pro-Wike lawmakers, who challenged the unauthorized use of state funds without legislative approval.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the lead judgment, pointed out that the appellate court misunderstood the core issue, which was the governor’s failure to comply with a court order mandating him to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a properly constituted House of Assembly. The court emphasized that Fubara’s decision to only engage a faction of loyalists was invalid, and the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers remained legitimate members of the Assembly, due to a lack of evidence supporting claims of defection.
The Supreme Court also dismissed Fubara’s argument that he needed to invoke the doctrine of necessity to justify his actions, stating that such reasoning could not legitimize illegal conduct, including attempts to bypass legislative authority.
In addition to ordering the immediate resumption of all elected Assembly members, the court imposed a cost of N5 million against Governor Fubara.
Ruling on Local Government Elections
In another ruling, the Supreme Court annulled the elections of all Chairmen and Councillors from the recent Local Government Elections in Rivers, following an appeal from the APC. The court found that the elections violated conditions set by the Electoral Act, including the failure to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reviewed the voters’ register as required.
The apex court reinstated an earlier ruling from the Federal High Court that prohibited INEC from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the elections. The court maintained that the elections were conducted without adhering to the necessary legal protocols.
Reactions from Political Leaders
Governor Fubara, through his Commissioner for Information Joe Johnson, expressed his intent to assess the ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decisions carefully. He urged the public to remain calm as the government seeks clarity on the judgments.
On the other hand, Wike celebrated the court’s ruling, asserting that it marked the end of impunity in Rivers. He accused Fubara of committing impeachable offenses and criticized political figures for supporting unlawful actions in the state.