The Supreme Court on Friday, ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies to stop releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court describes as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
In a judgment, the five-member panel led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In dismissing Governor Fubara’s appeal, the court ordered Martin Amaewhule to resume sitting immediately with other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court held that it is an aberration for Governor Fubara to have purportedly presented an appropriation bill before a four-man House of Assembly thereby denying twenty-eight constituencies of effective representation in vagrant violation of a court order mandating him (Fubara) to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.
The apex court further held that the actions of Governor Fubara over the alleged defection of twenty-eight members of the Rivers Assembly is an act of brigandage and dictatorship aimed at preventing the House from performing its legitimate functions under the speakership of Amaewhule.
In another decision, the Supreme Court nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), declaring them invalid due to violations of the Electoral Act.
Delivering the judgment on Friday, Justice Jamilu Tukur ruled that the election failed to meet legal standards, citing substantial irregularities in the process. He noted that RSIEC breached the law by continuing voter registration after announcing the election date, an act that undermined the credibility of the process.
The court further held that the electoral procedures leading up to the poll were improperly executed, violating Section 150 of the Electoral Act. As a result, all local government chairmen elected through the flawed process have been sacked.