.Supreme Court reserves judgment in 4 appeals on state political crisis
.Dismisses Fubara’s appeal on 2024 budget representation
.Ruling not against Gov — govt
.Pro-Wike assembly members celebrate
.Oko Jumbo still speaker –Ugochinyere
.No cause for alarm – Amachree
Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt, Blessing Omale and Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chief Hon David Omereji has appealed to the people of Obelle community who fled their homes to return.
Natives and residents of the community fled their homes over fear of a reprisal attack after suspected members of Iceland cultist group on Wednesday night, February 5, 2025, invaded community in search of members of a rival Deygbam cult group, killing seven persons.
Sources told our correspondent that the suspected cultists moved from one house to another and shot their victims dead in the community.
A native who pleaded anonymity disclosed that six of the persons killed were blood relations to those who were been hunted by the gunmen while only one person is a member of the Deygbam cult group, their main target.
The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident to newsmen, adding that seven suspects have been arrested and are in Police custody.
She said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju has directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the jurisdiction and Area Commander in charge of the area to fish out and apprehend fleeing members of the cult groups.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Emohua LGA, Chief David Omereji has placed a bounty of N10 million reward on anyone with information leading to arrest of those who perpetrated the killing in Obelle community and N20 million reward on any security agency that apprehends them within 72hrs
Omereji who spoke when he visited the community vowed that the killing will be the last of it’s kind in the area as he will not sleep until he sees an end to the Obelle incident.
Meanwhile the Supreme Court on Monday reserved judgment in four separate appeals on the raging political leadership tussles in Rivers.
Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, who led a five-member panel of justices reserved judgments to a date that would be communicated to parties, after taking arguments from lawyers involved in the matters.
The four appeals are the Rivers House of Assembly and others against the Rivers Government and nine others.
The second case is between the Rivers House of Assembly and others against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara
and nine others.
The third case is between the Rivers House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and nine others.
The fourth matter is between the Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Accountant General of Rivers and nine others.
The cases are in respect of some judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja which prohibited the release of monthly allocation to Rivers Government from the Federation Account and another that barred INEC from releasing voter register to the state government for the purpose of conducting local government election among others.
Recall that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the stoppage of the release of allocations from the Federal Government to Rivers until the governor represented the budget before the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly members.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upturned the judgment on grounds of grave injustice in the findings and decisions.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal, in another judgment, upturned the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had ruled against the conduct of the Oct. 5, 2024, local government council election on the grounds that due process of Rivers State laws on local government election had not been followed.
At Monday’s sitting , Joseph Daudu SAN represented the camp loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike while Chris Uche SAN led the camp of Fubara
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the ruling that mandated him to represent the state’s 2024 appropriation bill before the faction of the State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, dismissed the appeal after Fubara’s legal team, led by Yusuf Ali (SAN), withdrew the case.
The dispute arose after Fubara initially presented the 2024 budget to a five-member House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, arguing that the Amaewhule-led faction had ceased to be lawful members of the Assembly following their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that Fubara’s decision was unlawful, stating that he failed to provide evidence of the alleged defection of Amaewhule and 27 other lawmakers.
Dissatisfied with the rulings of the lower courts, Fubara had taken the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgments.
However, during Monday’s proceedings, Ali informed the court of a notice of withdrawal filed on February 6, stating that the appeal had been overtaken by events.
Responding, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing the Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule, along with Chief Joseph Dauda (SAN), who represented the National Assembly and its leadership, did not oppose the withdrawal but urged the court to dismiss the appeal rather than strike it out.
They also requested a cost of N2 million for each of their clients.
In a brief ruling, Justice Aba-Aji granted the application, dismissed the appeal, and awarded N2 million in costs in favor of the 1st to 12th respondents.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have trailed Monday’s Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal filed by the Rivers State Governor Fubara on the Court judgment mandating him to represent the 2024 budget before the Martin Amaehwule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
The ruling of the Apex Court however sparked celebrations among supporters of Nyesom Wike, and the embattled 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers State especially as the court awarded N4million fine against Governor Fubara to be paid to the Martin Amaehwule and the House of Assembly led by him.
They claimed that the coast had been finally cleared for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.
But supporters of the Rivers State Governor have dismissed the celebrations claiming victory for the pro-Wike lawmakers as misleading.
Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Asari Toru local government area, Rt. Hon. Orolosama Amachree and strong ally of Governor Fubara told Daily Champion that those celebrating the Apex Court ruling are doing so in ignorance, as they are totally out of line in their celebration.
Amachree who stated that there is no call for alarm said, the decision of Governor Fubara to withdraw his appeal against representation of the 2024 budget was the right thing to do as the matter has been overtaken by events.
In it’s reaction, the Rivers State Government through the Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara clarified that the Supreme Court decision on Monday, was about the Appeal Court Judgement that Fubara should re-present the 2024 budget before the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly, and not the case challenging the leadership of the State House of Assembly and the membership of the members who defected in December 2023 are still before the Supreme Court.
Hr said since the 2024 budget has been spent, Fubara thought to withdraw his appeal against the judgement because it will be a mere academic exercise to dwell on the matter.
He said, “This appeal SC/CV/1071/ 2024: GOV of Rivers State v Rivers State House of Assembly & Ors that came up today at the Supreme Court has become purely academic.
“The case leading to this appeal was before James Omotosho as SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023. It was filed on the 29th day of November 2023.
“SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 pertains to the 2024 budget, which is no longer alive, the monies appropriated therein having been judiciously spent for the benefit of the good people of Rivers State.
“The 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of the 2024 fiscal year. The appeal is of no useful purpose in this year 2025, which has its budget. The only reasonable thing left to do in the circumstances was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
“It would be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.
“It is important to note that after Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 was filed on 29th November 2023, Martin Chike and his 26 friends defected from PDP to APC on the 11th Day of December 2023. Their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly became vacant.
“This appeal that was withdrawn today has nothing to do with the seats of Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The members of the public should not be taken in by the misleading propaganda by Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends.”
Similarly, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson said the appeal was of no useful purpose as the 2024 budget became spent on the 31st December of 2024 fiscal year, adding that the only reasonable thing left to do was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.
The Commissioner said, “There was no Supreme court judgment against Gov. Fubara, ignore the outdated political propaganda by some desperate politicians.
“The Supreme Court is a very busy court. It will be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.
“Supreme Court ruled on the Appeal over the 2024 budget voluntarily withdrawn by Gov. Fubara because 2024 budget cycle have ended and no need wasting time discussing a budget that have been fully spent and implemented.”
He maintained that Rt. Hon Victor Oko Jumbo remains still authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and nothing can change that.
Earlier, the Speaker of the embattled 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, had commended the five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court for upholding justice and reaffirming the rule of law.
Amaewhule also expressed gratitude to the FCT Minister and other leaders of State who have supported the throughout this period throughout the period of the crisis.
“The Supreme Court has spoken, and the people of Rivers State are elated with this judgement,”
The embattled Speaker condemned the Governor’s refusal to provide the Assembly with its statutory entitlements for nearly a year, adding that the Governor thought they would be starved, stating that “today’s judgment has strengthened our resolve and hope in the judiciary.”
He accused Governor Fubara of consistently disregarding court orders, warning that all eyes are now on him to see whether he will disobey the Supreme Court’s verdict.
He stressed that the Governor has been spending taxpayers’ money for a year without appropriation, in clear defiance of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal Judgements. “Today’s judgment confirms that Governor Fubara has been in gross violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
However, the Opposition Coalition in the House of Representatives has said no Supreme Court judgement had been delivered against the governor of Rivers of State, Siminalayi Fubara as it was being made believe by some disgruntled elements.
Speaking on Minday’s Court verdict, the opposition lawmakers also said contrary insinuations and rumour churned out in certain quarters, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Oko Jumbo was still in charge and control of the legislature in the South-south state.
The Coalition through its Spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere said, it was rather in favour of Governor Fubara as it was predicated on his withdrawal of the appeal through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN.
According to him, Fubara did not lose any case at Supreme court, he withdrew his appeal over 2024 budget which was already spent, executed.
Ugochinyere noted that no Court has ruled anything in favour of Pro Wike Sacked lawmakers, stressing that the Governor withdrew his appeal on the 2024 budget due to the fact that the 2024 budget has expired and the Supreme Court struck it out.
The federal lawmaker, assured Nigerians, particularly Rivers State people, that Hon Victor Oko Jumbo is still authentic speaker and nothing can change that, urging them to disregard the political propaganda peddled by some sour losers who are not still being delusional.
Ugochinyere tasked the media on truthful reportage by verifying facts before reporting legal issues.
He urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to remain focused on delivering good governance to the people of Rivers State and ignore political shenanigans.
He said; “Today the Supreme Court ruled on the Appeal over the 2024 budget voluntarily withdrawn by Gov. Fubara because 2024 budget cycle have ended and no need Wasting time discussing a budget that have been fully spent and implemented.
“The sacked, disgruntled Martin Amaewhule and the Pro-Wike group are jubiliating, out of ignorance of what informed the decision of the apex court. For their information and others who care, the Supreme Court judgement was sequel to the withdrawal of the appeal by Governor Fubara through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN. Governor Fubara in the notice for withdrawal of the case, informed a 3-man panel of Justices of the Court that events have overtaken his suit.
“For those who don’t know such events as mentioned by His Excellency, Governor Fubara include inter-alia that the 2024 budget for instance has been fully executed and exhausted with 2025 Appropriation in effect, hence the case is statute-barred.
Also, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Oko Jumbo is still in charge and control of the legislature in the South-south state as the pro-Wike sacked lawmakers and their gang leader, Amaewhule remained removed from office.
