Abuja court nullifies Rivers 2024 N800bn budget

The N800 billion budget that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara had signed into law was declared void by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

Fubara was given an order by Justice James Omotoso to submit a new budget to the legislature.

However, civil society organisations cautioned Fubara against presenting the budget again during a protest on Monday at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.

The CSOs argued that the government's plan to present the budget again would be unlawful.

After the N800 billion 2024 budget was approved by a group of five lawmakers in the state Assembly, Fubara signed it in December.

Following a move to impeach Fubara by 27 legislators loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, the Rivers Assembly split.

The public became aware of the disintegration in Fubara's connection with Wike, his political godfather, when the parliamentarians attempted to remove him from office.

When it came time to introduce the 2024 budget to the Assembly, Fubara avoided the 27 MPs who supported Wike, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and instead gave the budget to five of his devoted supporters, led by Edison Ehie.

The 27 MPs who supported Wike left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the All Progressives Congress during the height of the controversy.

The MPs who supported Fubara then proclaimed their seats empty.

The parliamentarians who supported Wike responded by filing a lawsuit under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 to contest the decision to declare their seats vacant.

The National Assembly, the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Senate Minority Leader were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Clerk of the National Assembly were all named as defendants.

Defendants included the Rivers State Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant-General, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police, and Edison Ehie.

Source