The Supreme Court on Friday declared the Rivers State Local Government election invalid, ordered the suspension of financial allocations to the state government until the Rivers House of Assembly is properly constituted in line with the 1999 Constitution.
A five-member panel, led by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, upheld the Federal High Court ruling, which barred the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General of the Federation from disbursing funds to the Rivers State Government without a lawful Appropriation Act enacted by the Assembly.
The apex court affirmed the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly as the legitimate legislative body, overturned the Court of Appeal decision that nullified the lower court’s judgment.
Justice Agim condemned Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions, including presenting the 2024 budget to only four out of 31 lawmakers and demolishing the Assembly building. The court described the governor’s actions as unconstitutional, likening them to “bigamy” and a violation of democratic principles.
The Supreme Court imposed a ₦5 million fine on Governor Fubara and ordered the reinstatement of the Assembly’s Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and other staff unlawfully redeployed.
The judgment reinforced the importance of legislative independence and warned against executive overreach in governance.
