The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the recognition of Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. A three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, deeming it to lack merit.

The court confirmed the ruling of the Federal High Court, delivered on January 22 by Justice James Omotosho, which invalidated the 2024 N800 million Rivers State budget, ruling that it had not been lawfully presented before the State Assembly. Governor Fubara had presented the budget to only four out of 31 members of the Assembly, which the court ruled was a violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The appellate court also noted that Governor Fubara’s decision to withdraw the counter-affidavit he had initially filed, which challenged the suit brought forward by the Amaewhule-led lawmakers, indicated his agreement with the claims made against him. The court further admonished Fubara for disregarding the rule of law in his handling of the budget process.