•Sacks Rivers’ council chairmen, orders Amaewhule-led Assembly to resume legislative duties
From Godwin Tsa Abuja
The Supreme Court has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AG-F) from further releasing funds to the Rivers State Government until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted House of Assembly, with Martins Amaewhule as the Speaker.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court also ordered that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties unhindered.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the lead judgment of the apex court, also ordered that all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are to resume normal legislative businesses without any hindrance
The court condemned the conduct of Governor Simi Fubara, who he noted chose to destroy the government of Rivers State and resort to acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.
The court equally set aside an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the apex court has awarded N5million against Fubara and the Government of Rivers State, to be paid to the Rivers Assembly and Amaewhule.
The Supreme Court also nullified the Rivers State Local Government Area elections held on October 5, 2024 and won by the All People’s Party (APP).
The Apex Court held that the election was invalid and a nullity because all conditions precedent for the conduct of the polls were jettisoned by Rivers State Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Specifically, Justice Jamilu Tukur who delivered the lead verdict held that the council poll was conducted in gross violations of section 150 of the Electoral Act 2022.
A Federal High court in Abuja on Monday September 30, 2024 stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the October 5, 2024 local government elections in the state.
The Court had also barred the Inspector General of Police IGP and the Department of the State Service DSS from providing security.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order against INEC, while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).