Dismissed appeal by Supreme Court on Rivers, academic State Government explains
By Emma Ogbuehi
Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the appeal by Rivers State over the 2024 budget was a setback to the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the state government has offered an analysis on the substance of the ruling by the apex court, stating that it is purely academic.
According to a release by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, the 2024 budget became spent on December 31, 2024 fiscal year , hence the appeal is of no useful purpose.
“The only reasonable thing left to do is to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed”, the Commissioner explained.
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The statement added; “The Supreme Court is a very busy court. It will be most unwise to belabour the Honourable Court with academic appeals without any practical or utilitarian value.”
The commissioner mocked those celebrating the withdrawal of the appeal, describing them as urchins.
In his words; “There is no Supreme Court judgment against Gov. Fubara. Ignore the outdated political propaganda by some desperate politicians.
“Supreme Court ruled on the appeal over the 2024 budget voluntarily withdrawn by Gov. Fubara because 2024 budget cycle has ended and no need wasting time discussing a budget that has been fully spent and implemented.”
He added that Victor Oko Jumbo is still the authentic speaker of the state house of assembly, stressing that nothing can change that reality.
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, had on Monday, dismissed an appeal filed by Governor Fubara.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Abba-Aji imposed a cost of ₦2 million against Governor Fubara, payable to the Rivers Assembly as the first respondent and Speaker Martin Amaewhule as the second respondent.
The court’s decision to dismiss the appeal followed the withdrawal of the suit by Fubara’s legal counsel, Yusuf Ali.
