Embattled Rivers State Governor, SIminalayi Fubara, has vowed to soldier on after losing his battle challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly battle at the Supreme Court on Monday.
Fubara went to the apex court to challenge a 10 October 2024 ruling, which lambasted him for failing to abide by the rule of law in his action, particularly on the passage of the state’s 2024 budget
The court ruled that the governor erred in his decision to present the 2024 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to only four lawmakers loyal to him in the 31-member assembly.
The action was described by the court as a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the governor was ordered to represent the budget to the Rt. Hon Martins Amaehule-led Assembly.
Following the Court of Appeal judgment, Fubara approached the Supreme Court to set aside the lower court’s ruling and allow him to present the budget to the Ehie-led faction.
However, when the case was called on Monday, Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali, informed the Supreme Court that the governor had decided to withdraw the appeal.
Reacting to the judgement on Monday evening, Fubara said, “The appeal is of no useful purpose. The only reasonable thing left to do is to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed.”
Commissioner for Education, Wasenibo Joe Johnson, said the Supreme Court is very busy, noting, “It will be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.”
He said, “Supreme Court ruled on the Appeal over the 2024 budget voluntarily withdrawn by Gov.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 commissioner insisted that “Rt Hon Victor Oko Jumbo is still the authentic speaker and nothing can change that.”
