The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, nullified the N800 billion budget signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara.
Fubara had sent the budget for 2024 to a four-man House of Assembly for approval on December 13 amid his feud with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The court also upheld the suit filed by the Rivers House of Assembly and its Speaker Martin Amaewhule, against Fubara, which sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from frustrating the assembly under his leadership as speaker, among others.
Martin Amaewhule, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had named the National Assembly, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader, the House of Representatives Speaker, House Deputy Speaker, House Majority Leader, House Minority Leader, Clerk to the National Assembly were as first to 10th defendants, respectively.
The Governor of Rivers state, Attorney-General of Rivers, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant-General of Rivers, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police and Edison Ehie, were also listed as the 11th to the 17th defendants, respectively.
Ken Njemanze, counsel for the plaintiffs, accused the governor of interfering with the performance and functions of the state lawmakers contrary to the doctrine of the separation of powers.
He, therefore, sought an “order of injunction restraining the 1st to 10th defendants (NASS) from entertaining any request from the 11th defendant (Fubara) to take over the performance of the functions of Rivers Assembly, including its role to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Rivers in respect of matters that are within its constitutional and legislative competence.
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