Fubara’s appeal challenging the Amaewhule-led assembly is dismissed by the S’Court

A five-judge panel of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, has dismissed the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.

In her ruling, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji imposed costs of two million naira on the governor, payable to the Rivers State House of Assembly as the first respondent and to Martin Amaewhule as the second respondent.

The dismissal was based on the withdrawal of the suit by Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali. The Rivers Assembly has been mired in a prolonged crisis since 2023 when more than 25 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This split led to a leadership contest in the House between the Amaewhule faction and a rival group led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who is aligned with Fubara.

Since that time, Governor Fubara has conducted state business with the Oko-Jumbo faction while sidelining the Amaewhule group.

In a related development last October, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a Federal High Court decision that nullified the N800 billion 2024 budget passed by the rival faction. The appellate court dismissed Fubara’s appeal on the basis that it lacked merit, thereby annulling both the presentation and passage of the 2024 Rivers budget by the pro-Fubara lawmakers.