Court declares Rivers N800 Billion budget null and void

The federal high court sitting in Abuja has today declared the Rivers #800 billion 2024 budget null and void.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho made this pronouncement amongst other things warning Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to “exceed his power” as Rivers State governor.

According to the judge, the purported sitting of Edison Ehie and four other lawmakers to pass the state budget is null and void making the signed budget by the governor illegal.

Governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara

The judge also observed that the governor’s legal team had withdrawn all his processes in the matter, adding that it means that he admitted all the facts stated by the plaintiffs and held that based on facts before his court, Martins Amaewhule remained the valid Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly.

For that reason, the judge declared that the governor, by himself or by members of the staff of the Rivers State Public Service are not entitled to take steps aimed at interfering the affairs of the River State House of Assembly, and the Speaker, in the performance of their duties and the governor cannot withhold the due funds of the lawmakers in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.

The judge subsequently restrained the National Assembly from accepting any requests from the governor about the state assembly.

Dolupo Balogun

Written by Boom RadioNG