22nd January, 2024
By Paul Dada
A Federal High Court in Abuja, has on Monday, declared the N800bn 2024 budget signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara, illegal.
The budget was presented In December by the Fubara to a four member faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly. 27 other members of the state legislature were not present when the budget was presented by the governor.
The budget after being controversially passed by the four man-faction was signed into law by Fubara. Fubara subsequently signed the budget into law.
The Rivers House of Assembly’s factionalisation was as a result of the rift between Fubara and his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike who is currently the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory. Four of the House members were loyal to the Fubara while the 27 other pitched their tents with Wike.
But after a meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, resolutions were reached to put an end to the festering political crisis in Rivers.
Justice James Omotosho who sat over the matter in court, said everything done by the four lawmakers was null and void. He also held that Martins Amaewhule was the genuine Speaker of the State House of Assembly.