Rivers State Govt Responds to Supreme Court Ruling on Sim. Fubara Suit Against Pro-Wike’s Assembly
The Rivers State Government has provided clarity regarding its ongoing legal case in the Supreme Court, emphasizing that the matter concerning the 2024 budget and the leadership of the State House of Assembly is still under review.
In a statement released on February 10, 2025, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, explained that the recent Supreme Court ruling was tied to the Court of Appeal’s decision that the Governor should re-present the 2024 budget before the Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
However, with the 2024 budget already fully implemented and spent by December 31, 2024, Governor Fubara has opted to withdraw his appeal, deeming the case now academic and without practical relevance in 2025.
According to Channels Television, Ehie clarified that the specific appeal before the Supreme Court, SC/CV/1071/2024, had been based on the 2024 budget, which is now a closed matter as the funds have already been allocated and utilized.
He emphasized that continuing with the appeal would serve no meaningful purpose, and the only sensible action was to seek its dismissal.
Additionally, he addressed ongoing political developments in the state, including the defection of 27 members of the House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC in December 2023, which led to their seats being declared vacant.
Ehie made it clear that the appeal dismissed in court had no bearing on the status of these defected members and that public claims to the contrary were misleading.
Ehie’s statement aimed to prevent misinformation, assuring the public that the government’s actions were aligned with the best interests of Rivers State and that the legal case had no further bearing on the current budget or legislative matters.
This clarification comes after widespread media reports on the Supreme Court’s ruling, ensuring that citizens and observers understand the full context of the decision.