Federal High Court Nullifies N800bn Rivers State 2024 Budget Signed by Rivers State Governor Simi Fubara
In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the N800bn 2024 budget signed into law by Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara, null and void. The verdict, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, questioned the legitimacy of the budget approval process.
Governor Fubara had presented the N800bn 2024 Appropriation Bill to a faction of the state House of Assembly in December, consisting of only four lawmakers. Following their endorsement, Fubara officially signed the budget into law.
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The backdrop to this ruling is the internal strife within the Rivers Assembly, where 27 lawmakers, loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, sought to impeach Governor Fubara, resulting in the factionalization of the legislative body.
Justice Omotosho unequivocally stated that all actions taken by the four lawmakers in approving the budget were nullified, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the budgetary process. Additionally, the court officially recognized Amaewhule as the speaker of the state assembly, further solidifying the legal ramifications of this decision.
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This development is expected to have far-reaching consequences on the governance dynamics in Rivers State, as the legal system grapples with the fallout from the factionalization of the assembly and the subsequent nullification of the budget.
As the story unfolds, more details regarding the court’s decision and its implications for the state’s political landscape are anticipated.
