JUST IN: Court nullifies passage of Rivers 2024 budget by factional speaker

By Stephen Asaba-ase

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, voided and set aside the presentation and passage of Rivers State 2024 budget by a group of four-member legislators in the State.

In a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotoso ordered the governor of the State, Siminalaye Fubara to represent the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.

The court quashed the withholding of the House of Assembly fund on the ground, declaring that he had no constitutional power to do so.

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

The redeployment of the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk done by the Governor was declared null and void and was set aside.

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

Justice Omotoso ordered the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to resume office immediately and unhindered.

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

Fubara was ordered to release all monies standing in the credit of the House of Assembly to Martin Amaewhule.

Congress learnt that all the contentious issues were resolved in favour of Wike’s loyalists.