A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the N800 billion 2024 budget signed into law by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, citing procedural irregularities.
The controversial budget, signed into law in December, stemmed from a deep political divide within the state’s House of Assembly.
Fubara, facing an impeachment threat from 27 lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, presented the budget to a faction comprising only four lawmakers. This faction then purportedly passed the budget, which Fubara subsequently signed.
Judge James Omotosho, however, declared the entire process invalid. He ruled that all actions the four-member faction took were “null and void,” effectively erasing the N800 billion budget from the books.
Furthermore, the court recognised Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate speaker of the state assembly, further undermining the faction aligned with Wike.
