The Rivers State government has reacted to the dismissal of an appeal by the governor of the state, Sim Fubara, against the Martin Amaewhule group in the Rivers State House of Assembly, saying the appeal by the governor was overtaken by events and was good for dismissal.
A source closest to the highest authority in the Ministry of Justice reacted to inquiries by a group of newsmen Monday, February 10, 2025, thus: “This appeal is academic. The 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of 2024 fiscal year. The appeal is of no useful purpose. The only reasonable thing left to do is to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
“The Supreme Court is a very busy court. It will be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.”
Soon after, a confirmation to this position came from the facebook page of Edison Ehie, the chief of staff to Gov Fubara which seemed to clarify that its case challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) and the membership status of the members who defected in December 2023 was still before the Supreme Court.
The chief of staff explained that the Supreme Court decision today Monday, February 10, 2025, was about the Appeal Court Judgment that Gov Fubara should re-present the 2024 budget before the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
Read also: Rivers crisis now in auto-pilot
He said since the 2024 budget has been spent, Gov. Fubara thought it wise to withdraw his appeal against the judgment because it would be a mere academic exercise to dwell on the matter.
The full statement said: “This appeal SC/CV/1071/ 2024: GOV of Rivers State v Rivers State House of Assembly & Ors that came up today at the Supreme Court has become purely academic.
“The case leading to this appeal was before James Omotosho as Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, filed on the 29th day of November 2023.
“Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 pertains to the 2024 budget, which is no longer alive, the monies appropriated therein haven been judiciously spent for the benefit of the good people of Rivers State.
“The 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of 2024 fiscal year.
“The appeal is of no useful purpose in this year 2025, which has its own budget.
“The only reasonable thing left to do in the circumstances was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
“It would be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.
“It is important to note that after Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 was filed on 29th November 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 26 friends defected from PDP to APC on December 11, 2023. Their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly became vacant.
“This appeal that was withdrawn today has nothing to do with the seats of Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The members of the public should not be taken in by the misleading propaganda by Amaewhule and his 26 friends”
He went on to state that the case leading to this appeal was before James Omotosho as Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023.
All the cases:
The Supreme Court was to treat the five consolidated appeals from the Gov Sim Fubara /Nyesom Wike legal fireworks today, Monday, February 10, 2025, instituted regarding the Rivers political crisis.
They are; 1. SC/CV/1174/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Government and nine others; 2. SC/CV/1175/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Governor and nine others; and 3. SC/CV/1176/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and nine others.
Others are 4. SC/CV/1177/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Accountant General of Rivers State and nine others; and 5. SC/CV/1071A/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the National Assembly and 16 others.
The Supreme Court thus dismissed the one where a notice of discontinuance was filed with a cost of two million naira against the governor while hearings continued in the rest of the cases with judgment not yet fixed.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
