The Supreme Court on Friday made the pronouncement stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria from releasing funds to Rivers State government until the Rivers House of Assembly is properly constituted by the 1999 Constitution.
The apex court also affirmed the Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly members as valid members of the house.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) were directed by the Supreme Court to stop releasing funds to Rivers State until when a valid budget is passed by the state House of Assembly.
In its ruling, the Justice Emmanuel Agim-led five-member panel of the Supreme Court also ordered that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members “illegally excluded” from functioning as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly resume immediately.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports that the Apex Court posited that to stop Amaewhule and 26 others from functioning on grounds of alleged defection was unlawful.
The Supreme Court has described the decision of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2024 budget to a four-member State Assembly as illegal as the House lacked quorum when the presentation was done.
It says further that a four-member House represents 12.5% of the geographical entity, which is Rivers State. It therefore says that doesn’t constitute the right number to conduct legislative business.
While positing that legislative business cannot be conducted in secret, the Justices added that there is now no government in Rivers State, due to the absence of a legislature.
This decision follows the position of the Court that the action of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, throughout the political saga had been borne out of fear of impeachment.
It adds that is no justification to attack the legislature or act in breach of the rule of law. It clearly faulted the action of the State governor, which included the demolition of the Assembly building.
