Supreme Court explains restoration of Rivers assembly
- The Supreme Court explained why it reinstated Martins Amaewhule and his group as the Rivers State House of Assembly.
- court said there was no evidence that 27 lawmakers left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
The Supreme Court explained why it reinstated Martins Amaewhule and his group as the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Emmanuel Agim stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was wrong to recognize only four lawmakers as the real Assembly.
In a 62-page judgment released in Abuja, the court said there was no evidence that 27 lawmakers left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since there was no proof of defection, the lawmakers must continue their duties.
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On February 28, the court stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant-General from giving money to the Rivers State Government until the House of Assembly was properly formed.
Justice Emmanuel Agim stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was wrong to recognize only four lawmakers as the real Assembly. The court noted that Fubara first accused the 27 lawmakers of defecting but later withdrew the claim in court. Since he dropped the case, the lawmakers had not officially defected.
The judgment criticized Fubara’s actions, saying he wanted to control the government without a functioning legislature. The court also rejected Fubara’s claim that he acted under the “doctrine of necessity,” calling it an excuse to break the law.
The ruling stated that no government can exist without all three branches—Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. It said Fubara tried to weaken the Legislature to rule without opposition, which is against the law.
The court upheld the decision of the Federal High Court and dismissed Fubara’s appeal. It ordered the CBN and Accountant-General to stop giving Rivers State Government money until the properly formed House of Assembly passes a budget.
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Finally, the court instructed Amaewhule and the other lawmakers to resume their dutiesimmediately.
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