A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to halt Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s spending of Rivers State funds. This decision came pending the hearing of a suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State Assembly.
The assembly faction, loyal to Nyesom Wike, the current FCT minister and Fubara’s predecessor, is in a power struggle with Fubara for control over the state’s political structure.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on the motion ex-parte, stating that the plaintiffs must notify all defendants in the suit.
He said, “the leave is hereby granted to the plaintiffs/applicants to serve the 5th to 10th defendants/respondents with the plaintiffs/applicants’ originating and any other process (es) filed or issued in this suit by substituted means to wit: by publishing same in the Nation Newspapers.”
Related Stories
- With 7-day Ultimatum Expired, Amaewhule-Led Assembly Blocks Fubara’s 2024 Budget Expenditures
- Rivers State Assembly Crisis Intensifies As Pro-Fubara and Wike’s Factions Hold Separate Sittings
The court set the hearing for the motion on notice for August 7. The defendants include Governor Fubara, the Rivers State Accountant-General, the Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Chief Judge of Rivers, the Chairperson of RSIEC, and the Government of Rivers State.
The Rivers House of Assembly and its leader, Martin Amaewhule, filed the suit on July 15 through their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu. They are suing the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The assembly had earlier suspended all expenditures by Governor Fubara until he re-presents his budget.
House Leader Major Jack emphasized, “The governor must re-present the 2024 budget to the house within seven days.”