Court quashes Rivers’ N800b budget passed by pro-Fubara lawmakers
By Emma Ogbuehi
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, January 22, 2024, nullified the N800 billion budget passed by the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
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The Court presided over by Justice James also upheld the suit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Martin Amaewhule against Fubara, which sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from frustrating the Assembly under his leadership as Speaker, among others.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara had on Thursday, December 14, 2023 signed the N800 billion 2024 budget into law, barely 24 hours after it was presented to a four-man House of Assembly for approval.
On December 13, 2023, in the heat of the protracted political crisis rocking the oil-rich state and the demolition of the Assembly Complex, Fubara presented the 2024 budget proposal of N800 billion to five members of the State Assembly led by Edison Ehie.
The presentation was done at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following the demolition of the Assembly Complex by the state government and after a court restrained Ehie’s contender, Martins Amaewhule, from using the Assembly Complex.
Ehie and the other pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates and the governor signed the bill into law, saying it is aimed at promoting economic development through inclusive growth and addressing socio-economic inequality in the state.
Ehie would later resign from the House and Amaewhule was restored as the Assembly’s Speaker after both sides met with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
Amaewhule and 25 other lawmakers loyal to ex-Governor Nyesom Wike subsequently demanded that Fubara presented the 2024 budget estimates to the Assembly afresh and the matter was taken to court.
On Monday, Ken Njemanze who is counsel for Amaewhule, accused the governor of interfering with the performance and functions of the state lawmakers contrary to the doctrine of the separation of powers.
He, therefore, sought an “order of injunction restraining the 1st to 10th defendants (NASS) from entertaining any request from the 11th defendant (Fubara) to take over the performance of the functions of Rivers Assembly, including its role to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Rivers in respect of matters that are within its constitutional and legislative competence”.
“An order of mandatory injunction compelling the Inspector General of Police (whether by himself or by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force under his command) to provide and continue to provide adequate Security and protection for the 1st Plaintiff under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for the purpose of transacting the business of the 1st Plaintiff.
“An order restraining Fubara including the 12th, 13th and 14th defendants from withholding any amount standing to the credit of Rivers Assembly in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the speaker, deputy speaker and other members of the house as well as to the clerk, deputy clerk and other members of staff of the assembly,” the plaintiff’s prayed among other reliefs.
In the alternative, the plaintiff sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents from denying the Assembly the due funds for running its affairs including the payment of salaries, allowances, emoluments and meeting its financial obligations no matter how described.
First, Justice James Omotosho observed that the 17th defendant, Ehie, said through his lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye, that he has resigned from the River State Assembly.
Omotosho said Ehie lacked the capacity to sue or be sued in the case as he is no longer the Speaker or a member of the Assembly.
On the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of his court, Omotosho held the suit was properly constituted before him.
Omotosho disagreed with the plaintiffs on the powers of the governor, noting that the power to make laws in a state are shared between the executive, the state Assembly and local government areas.
With respect to the National Assembly taking over the functions of the State Assembly, the judge said that can only happen when the state lawmakers are no longer sitting and transacting business as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws.
“There is nothing before this court showing that the River State House of Assembly is unable to carry out its functions,” Justice Omotosho said, and ruled that the issue was resolved in favour of the plaintiffs.
On the removal of the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, who was redeployed by the Rivers State Head of Service, Justice Omotosho declared it null and void and invalid in the face of the law.
Omotosho said the constitution is clear that the appointment of a Clerk and Deputy Clerk is done by the Rivers State Speaker and is subject to confirmation by the lawmakers, and that their appointment, remuneration is governed by the Rivers State House Of Assembly Law, even though they are civil servants.
The judge said the first plaintiff is entitled to funds or amount standing to the credit of Rivers Assembly in the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, including salaries and emoluments and that same cannot be stopped by anyone including the governor.
‘Don’t Exceed Your Powers’, Judge Warns Fubara
Omotosho said the court is against any plan to jeopardise democracy, warning that a governor should not “exceed his power”.
The judge thereby declared that the governor of Rivers State, 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.
The judge said 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.
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.
The judge held that based on facts before his court, Amaewhule remained the valid Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly.
The judge said the purported sitting of Ehie and four other lawmakers who sat to pass the budget of the state is null and void.
Omotosho said the court found it strange that the governor would destroy the Rivers State Assembly building as well as present appropriation bill to five lawmakers.
He declared the presentation of the bill to the five lawmakers void.
The judge granted the order setting aside the purported Appropriation Bill signed, despite the interim order of his court, restraining him.
The judge also granted the order restraining the governor from continuing the demolition or construction of the Rivers State building.
The court said all the acts of the governor with four lawmakers is a nullity and he should go through the lawmakers presided by Amaewhule.
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