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Report has it that the N800 billion budget signed into law by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has been declared null and void by the Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja. The budget had earlier been passed by the Edison Ehie-led group of the Rivers State House of Assembly before the governor’s approval.
The Federal court also upheld a suit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Martin Amaewhule against Governor Fubara. The suit sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from impeding the Assembly under Amaewhule's leadership as speaker, among other requests.
The contentious budget was presented by Fubara on December 13, 2023, during the height of a prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state and the demolition of the Assembly Complex. Fubara handed over the 2024 budget proposal of N800 billion to five members of the State Assembly, led by Edison Ehie, at the Government House in Port Harcourt. This occurred following the demolition of the Assembly Complex by the state government and a court order restraining Ehie’s contender, Martins Amaewhule, from using the Assembly Complex.
Ehie and other pro-Fubara lawmakers proceeded to pass the budget estimates, and the governor signed the bill into law, emphasizing its aim to promote economic development through inclusive growth and address socio-economic inequality in the state.
However, Ehie later resigned from the House, and Amaewhule was reinstated as the Assembly’s Speaker after both factions met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Subsequently, Amaewhule and 25 other lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike demanded that Fubara present the 2024 budget estimates to the Assembly afresh, leading to the legal proceedings.
