The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed an appeal filed by Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers to challenge the lower court judgment affirming Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly.
A three-member panel of justices, led by justice Oyewole in a unanimous judgment, affirmed the January 22 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the House of Assembly.
Justice Oyewole held that the appeal was bereft of merit, pointing out that Fubara, having withdrew his counter affidavits and other processes filed at the lower court, cannot turnaround to appeal a matter that had been terminated.
Recall that Justice Omotosho had, on Jan. 22, set aside the Rivers’ N800 billion budget passed by five members of the house led by the Edison Ehie-led faction.
The panel, who dismissed the appeal, consequently ordered Governor Fubara to represent the budget to the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly.
The court also ordered Fubara to pay each of the 13 respondents the sum of N500, 000 each.
