BREAKING: Supreme Court Blocks CBN Funds to Rivers Govt, Orders Amaewhule to Reconvene Assembly

In a major ruling, the Supreme Court has stopped the CBN from releasing funds to the Rivers government and ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting with all elected lawmakers. Read more on the judgment.

The Supreme Court has prohibited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other agencies from disbursing funds to Rivers State’s government until it addresses its blatant disregard for court orders.

In a judgment lasting one hour and thirty-six minutes, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye delivered the unanimous decision of the five-member panel to dismiss Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cross-appeal challenging the legitimacy of Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the House of Assembly.

After rejecting Governor Fubara’s appeal, the court mandated that Martin Amaewhule immediately join other elected members in resuming sessions at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court ruled that Governor Fubara’s alleged presentation of an appropriation bill to a four-member House of Assembly was irregular, as it effectively deprived twenty-eight constituencies of proper representation. This action blatantly violated a court order requiring him to re-submit the 2024 appropriation bill before a duly formed Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.

The highest court also determined that Governor Fubara’s actions concerning the alleged defection of twenty-eight members of the Rivers Assembly amount to brigandage and dictatorship, intended to obstruct the House from carrying out its legitimate duties under the speakership.

The court additionally determined that Governor Fubara’s demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex constitutes an act of indiscipline, reflecting an excessive use of executive power intended to obstruct the Assembly session led by Amaewhule.

In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court declared invalid the local government election held on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

In a decision handed down by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the court ruled that the election was invalid due to significant violations of the Electoral Act.

In reviewing the judgement, Justice Tukur declared that the actions of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission were nullified due to their failure to substantially comply with the Electoral Act and guidelines. This decision was made because the electoral body continued voter registration even after an election date had been announced.

The court determined that the procedures leading to the local government election were shortened, blatantly violating Section 150 of the Electoral Act.

The conflict in the House arose due to a disagreement between former governor and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and his successor Governor Fubara.

After the fallout, the House was fragmented. Twenty-seven members, led by Amaehwule, remained loyal to Wike, while four others under Edison Ehie’s leadership continued collaborating with Governor Fubara.

Subsequently, Fubara appointed Ehie as his Chief of Staff, while Victor Oko-Jumbo assumed leadership of the House faction loyal to the governor.

The conflict led to parallel sessions, a plan to impeach the governor, the destruction of the Assembly complex, and a wave of resignations from pro-Wike commissioners in Fubara’s cabinet.

The dispute between the two parties has been in court for months, culminating in a Supreme Court judgment on Friday.

In October 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a judgment by the Federal High Court that nullified an N800 billion budget passed by five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly under Edison Ehie’s leadership.

The appellate court rejected the appeal submitted by Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, citing a lack of merit.

The court determined that Governor Fubara withdrew his counter-affidavit at the lower court regarding the case, and therefore, he cannot initiate an appeal on an issue he did not contest during the trial stage.

In its unanimous judgment, the court stated that Governor Fubara is expected to uphold the rule of law rather than resorting to the use of might.

The court also stated that the situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly represents an executive dictatorship by the governor and has been taken to absurd lengths.