Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has withdrawn his appeal challenging the Court of Appeal’s ruling that declared the state’s 2024 budget illegal.
The announcement was made on Monday by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Governor Fubara had originally presented the 2024 budget to the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023. However, on October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court, delivered on January 22, 2024, which nullified the budget’s passage.
The budget dispute stemmed from a lawsuit filed by lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Martins Amaewhule. They argued that the budget was not legally passed, as it was presented to a faction of the Assembly rather than the full legislative body.
The withdrawal of the appeal comes amid an ongoing political standoff between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, over control of the state’s political affairs.
In a statement on social media, Olayinka suggested that Fubara’s decision to drop the appeal was an admission of fault.
He wrote: “Governor Fubara of Rivers State has withdrawn his appeal No. SC/CV/1071/2024 against the Court of Appeal’s verdict, which declared the 2024 budget unlawful and directed him to submit it to the House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The Appeal Court had upheld Justice J. K. Omotosho’s judgment in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, which ruled that the governor must re-present the budget to the legitimate House of Assembly.
By withdrawing the appeal, Governor Fubara has accepted both the lower and appellate courts’ rulings, confirming that his initial budget presentation was unconstitutional.”
As of now, Governor Fubara’s administration has not issued an official statement regarding the decision.
