Court Rules Against Rivers Governor Fubara, Orders Resubmission Of State Budget To Assembly

Abuja, Nigeria- The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which sought to disband 27 members of the State House of Assembly following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a judgment delivered by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, the court ruled that Fubara lacked the grounds to pursue the appeal, especially after he had withdrawn his opposition to the case of the pro-Wike lawmakers at the Federal High Court.

The court has also mandated that he resubmit the State’s budget to the Assembly under the recognized Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, in accordance with Justice James Omotosho’s federal high court ruling.

Justice Oyewole stated that Fubara’s decision to withdraw from the federal high court suit cannot be corrected by any court.

He remarked that Fubara’s actions in approaching the court demonstrated a contradictory stance—both affirming and rejecting the matter—adding that such behavior has no legal foundation.

Consequently, he invalidated the passage of the 2024 budget, which had been approved by only 4 out of 32 members, citing its illegality as unacceptable in a democratic framework.