The Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to resubmit the 2024 budget to the House.
This directive comes after the first sitting of the pro-Wike House on Monday, following a hiatus of several months. Concurrently, the opposing House led by Victor Oko-Jumbo is also holding a parallel sitting.
Fubara had earlier signed into law the budget he presented to a factional Assembly loyal to him, presided over by his current Chief of Staff.
Today’s sitting by the Amaewhule-led Assembly comes after a Court of Appeal ruling last week, nullifying the expulsion of Amaewhule and 24 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Rivers State High Court.
High Court judge Justice Charles Wali issued an exparte order in May barring Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
However, last Monday, a three-member appellate court panel held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the order.
The court held that Section 272(3) of the Constitution gives the Federal High Court powers to determine whether a House of Assembly member’s seat has become vacant and that the Federal High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to do so.
According to the court, the express mention of the Federal High Court in Section 272 (3) of the Constitution automatically excludes all state high courts from having the jurisdiction.
The appellate court held that the exparte order, made without jurisdiction, is null and void.