Why I withdrew my appeal against Amaewuhle — Gov. Fubara
…S’Court confirms Rivers Govt spent funds without appropriation — Amaewhule
By Blessing Emmanuel
Recent media reports (excluding Nigerian NewsDirect) speculating that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew an appeal against Amaewhule as a concession or acceptance of a court ruling have now been clarified.
Governor Fubara has confirmed that these claims are misleading and do not accurately reflect the nature of his decision.
In an official statement released by the Governor’s office, it was explained that the appeal was withdrawn as part of a procedural decision based on legal and administrative factors. The Governor stressed that this move was not an admission of defeat but rather a recognition that the appeal had been overtaken by events.
The statement noted that the legal dispute was connected to past budgetary matters, and with Rivers State now operating under a new fiscal framework for 2025, continuing with the case was deemed unnecessary.
The notice further clarified that the withdrawal was in line with Order 11, Rule 14 of the Supreme Court Rules, which allows for the discontinuation of cases that have lost their relevance due to changing circumstances.
“This is not about conceding anything. The legal team made a practical decision based on the fact that the issues in contention are no longer applicable to the current governance structure in Rivers State,” the statement read.
Despite this clarification, some political figures and commentators have attempted to portray the withdrawal as a sign of weakness. However, government officials have dismissed such interpretations as misleading and politically motivated.
A senior state government official, who requested anonymity, urged the public to focus on the ongoing development initiatives under Governor Fubara rather than on legal matters that no longer hold relevance.
“The governor is focused on delivering good governance. The opposition should concentrate on facts instead of twisting legal decisions to fit a false narrative,” the official stated.
Governor Fubara remains committed to his administration’s development agenda, with key projects in infrastructure, education, and economic growth already having a significant impact across the state.
…S’Court confirms Rivers Govt spent funds without appropriation — Amaewhule
Meanwhile, The Rivers State House of Assembly has reacted to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which dismissed an appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, in a statement following the court’s verdict, emphasised a significant aspect of the judgment: the confirmation that for an entire year, the Rivers State Government had been spending taxpayer money without the necessary appropriation law.
Speaking to the press on Monday, Amaewhule stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment has affirmed that the Governor’s actions were in clear violation of the law, as no funds were legally appropriated by the Assembly during that period.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court has affirmed that for one whole year, the Governor of Rivers State spent taxpayer money without our appropriation law,” Amaewhule declared.
This ruling stems from an ongoing legal battle between Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly. Earlier, the Federal High Court had ruled that the Assembly’s 27 lawmakers were legitimate, a decision that Governor Fubara contested.
After the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal High Court’s ruling, Fubara appealed the matter to the Supreme Court, which on Monday dismissed his appeal, bringing the legal dispute to a close.
Amaewhule, reflecting on the judgment, praised the Supreme Court for its decision, asserting that the ruling strengthened the resolve of the Assembly members.
The Speaker further expressed his gratitude to the people of Rivers State and the Assembly’s supporters, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for their continuous backing.
The Speaker also said the Governor’s defiance of previous court orders, notably the injunctions issued by Justice J.K. Omotosho, which prohibited the Governor from withholding funds meant for the Assembly.
Amaewhule noted that the Assembly will continue to uphold its mandate despite the Governor’s past actions.
Addressing the issue of vacant seats in the Assembly, Amaewhule called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to fill the vacancies created by the deaths and absences of certain lawmakers.
