The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which sought to challenge a Court of Appeal ruling that recognized Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court also ordered Governor Fubara to pay N4 million as costs.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, ruled on the case on Monday.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/1071/2024, was originally scheduled for hearing.
However, Fubara’s legal team, led by Yusuf Ali (SAN), informed the court of their decision to withdraw it.
The decision to withdraw the appeal was based on recent political developments.
Though the legal representatives of the Amaewhule-led lawmakers, including Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and J. B. Daudu (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal, they requested the court to award costs.
The court agreed and dismissed the appeal instead of striking it out, ruling that Fubara must pay N4 million to the respondents.
The dispute began when a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly emerged following a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The conflict split the Assembly into two groups—one led by Amaewhule, who is loyal to Wike, and another led by Edison Ehie, who supported Fubara.
Fubara’s decision to present the 2024 budget to only four out of 31 lawmakers, bypassing the Amaewhule-led majority, triggered legal battles.
The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that this action violated the law, making the budget invalid.
The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier Federal High Court ruling, which nullified the budget and ruled that Fubara had acted unlawfully by sidelining the majority of lawmakers.
The court also criticized Fubara for demolishing the state assembly complex and withholding legislative funds.
The court ruled that the National Assembly could not take over Rivers State’s legislative functions unless specific constitutional conditions were met.
As a result, all actions taken by the minority faction led by Ehie, including passing the state budget, were declared invalid.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, both Fubara and Wike agreed to a peace deal.
As part of the agreement, Amaewhule was reinstated as Speaker, and Edison Ehie resigned from the Assembly.
Fubara withdrew his legal challenge, but the Amaewhule-led lawmakers refused to drop their case entirely.
The Supreme Court’s decision reinforced the Court of Appeal’s ruling, recognizing Amaewhule’s leadership and holding Fubara accountable for his actions.
With the dismissal of the appeal and the N4 million penalty, the legal battle over the Rivers State Assembly appears to be settled, leaving Governor Fubara with no further legal options on the matter.
