Supreme Court Did Not Decide Rivers State Speakership – Falana

Legal expert Femi Falana clarifies that the Supreme Court did not rule on who is the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Contrary to certain narratives, the Supreme Court’s decision on Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal against the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly is unrelated to determining who is the legitimate Speaker of the House.

Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights lawyer, expressed this on Channel Television’s “Politics Today” program on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected the governor’s appeal.

“When an appeal is dismissed due to the appellant’s withdrawal rather than a decision on its merits, there is no reason for celebration. In this case, the Governor of Rivers State directed his lawyers to withdraw the appeal because it had become purely theoretical.”

“In other words, the issues are no longer relevant, so why waste the court’s time? Contrary to what a colleague claimed, the court did not decide who is or isn’t a speaker; that issue wasn’t addressed,” Falana stated.

He mentioned that the issue taken to appeal from the Federal High Court involved the 2024 budget proposal, which has already been enacted into law according to the governor. Consequently, there is no need for further litigation.

A five-member Supreme Court panel, headed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the appeal against the Amaewhule-led group due to Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali, withdrawing the lawsuit.

The Rivers Assembly has been mired in an ongoing crisis since 2023, following the defection of more than 25 legislators loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Amaewhule’s leadership in the House was subsequently challenged by lawmakers aligned with Victor Oko-Jumbo, a group known for their loyalty to Fubara.

Since then, Fubara has conducted state business with the Oko-Jumbo group while disregarding the Amaewhule faction.

Falana asserted that three members of the state House of Assembly can perform legislative duties, except when it involves impeaching the governor.

He asserted that when they moved from the PDP to the APC, the other 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly forfeited their positions because their seats were declared vacant.