*Pix above: Gov Simi Fubara making the budget presentation
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, nullified the N800 billion budget passed by the Edison Ehie-led group of the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
News Agency of Nigeria recalls that in December, 2023, the governor had presented an N800bn 2024 Appropriation Bill to a faction of the state House of Assembly, comprising five lawmakers.
Following the passage of the budget by the lawmakers, Fubara subsequently signed the budget into law.The presentation was done at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following the demolition of the Assembly Complex by the state government and after a court restrained Ehie’s contender, Martins Amaewhule, from using the Assembly Complex.
Ehie and the other pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates and the governor signed the bill into law, saying it is aimed at promoting economic development through inclusive growth and addressing socio-economic inequality in the state.
Ehie would later resign from the House and Amaewhule was restored as the Assembly’s Speaker after both sides met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
Amaewhule and 25 other lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister, subsequently demanded that Fubara presented the 2024 budget estimates to the Assembly afresh and the matter was taken to court.
However, the presiding judge, James Omotosho, on Monday held that everything done by the five lawmakers was null and void.
Omotosho said Ehie lacked the capacity to sue or be sued in the case as he is no longer the Speaker or a member of the Assembly.
The court also recognised Martin Amaewhule as the speaker of the state assembly.The judge also granted the order restraining the governor from continuing the demolition or construction of the Rivers State building.
The court said all the acts of the governor with five lawmakers are nullity and he should go through the lawmakers presided by Amaewhule.(NAN)/PLEASE SHARE
*Tags: Gov Simi Fubara, Edison Ehie, Martin Amaewhule, Nyesom Wike
