The Supreme Court has ruled that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, must pay ₦5 million to 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike. The lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had filed an appeal against the governor, challenging his alleged interference in the state assembly’s affairs.
Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, delivering the judgment, stated that Governor Fubara had engaged in unconstitutional actions to undermine the legislative arm of the state. The ruling upheld previous decisions by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which found the governor guilty of obstructing the legislative process.
The appeal was filed against a judgment from the Court of Appeal, with the Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule as applicants. The respondents included the Rivers State government, the National Independent Electoral Commission, banks, and the Chief Judge of Rivers State. Fubara was listed as the eighth respondent.
Supreme Court Lambasts Governor’s Actions
The court ruled that Governor Fubara had taken several illegal steps to block the assembly from functioning. Justice Agim said, “The findings of the Court of Appeal show that after Fubara became governor in 2023, he feared impeachment and took unlawful actions to stop the assembly from functioning.”
Among these actions, the governor allegedly prevented the assembly from sitting, withheld its funds, and even demolished the assembly building using bulldozers. Justice Agim further stated, “Fubara engaged in these acts in defiance of court orders obtained by the 27 lawmakers.”
The Supreme Court also dismissed the claim that the lawmakers had lost their seats due to defection, arguing that there was no evidence that they had officially joined another party. “Membership register and membership card are the only valid proof of party membership,” the judge explained.
The ruling emphasized that the governor’s actions had effectively collapsed the legislative arm of the state. “A government cannot function without all three arms,” the court declared. “What we have in Rivers State is a governor ruling without a legislature, which is unconstitutional.”
The Supreme Court concluded that Fubara’s fear of impeachment did not justify his actions. The court ordered both the governor and the Rivers State government to pay N5 million to the lawmakers.
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