The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, equally validated the Amaewhule-led members of the Assembly as the authentic lawmakers for the state.

While dismissing an appeal that was lodged before it by Governor Siminalaye Fubara, the court upheld a judgment by the Federal High Court delivered on January 22, which nullified the 2024 budget of Rivers State on the premise that it was not presented before members of the state assembly.

The court held that governor Fubara’s decision to present the 2024 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to only four out of thirty one members of the Assembly, amounted to a gross violation of section 91 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which set aside the eight hundred billion naira budget passed by five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly which was led by Edison Ehie-led.

The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara on grounds that it lacked merit.

The court held that Governor Fubara withdrew his counter-affidavit at the lower court in the matter and as such cannot commence an appeal in a matter he did not challenge at the trial stage.

In the unanimous judgment, the court said it expects Governor Fubara to apply the rule of law and not rule of might.

In the judgment delivered, Justice Omotoso ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to re-present the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.

Recall that Governor Fubara had presented the budget titled: ‘Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity’ of eight hundred billion naira to five lawmakers of the state house of assembly in December 2023.