Court nullifies Rivers’ budget, bars Fubara from ‘frustrating legislature’

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified and set aside the presentation and passage of the Rivers State 2024 Budget by a four-member state assembly.

Justice James Omotoso, on Monday, also ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara to represent the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

James Omotoso also held that the governor has no power to withhold funds belonging to the Rivers State House of Assembly, Daily Trust reports.

The judge restrained Governor Fubara from frustrating the sitting of the House of Assembly under Amaewhule or interfering in its affairs.

The judge further declared null and void the governor’s redeployment of the clerk and deputy clerk.

The Inspector General of Police was ordered to immediately give adequate security to the Speaker and legislators loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

The National Assembly was also barred from taking over the Rivers State House of Assembly or accepting or treating any request from Governor Fubara.

Reacting to the judgment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state called on the governor to present the budget to the Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.