By Our Reporter
The Rivers State House of Assembly convened on Friday, shortly after the Supreme Court’s judgment, stating that it believes Governor Siminalayi Fubara will now repent from his sins following the ruling.
The Assembly praised the Supreme Court Justices for their well-considered judgment, which affirmed Martin Chike Amaewhule as the Speaker and upheld the legitimacy of the current Assembly members.
House Leader Major Jack informed the House of the Supreme Court’s decision, which validated their status and ordered them to resume sitting immediately.
In a statement signed by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Jack noted that the Supreme Court also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt the release of funds to the Rivers State Government until an Appropriation Bill is presented to the properly constituted House.
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The court also nullified the local government elections conducted in October 2024, declaring them invalid.
Commenting on the development, Amaewhule described the judgement as victory for democracy and the rule of law, saying that the Supreme Court proved him and other members right when the House asserted that Fubara was “running a criminal government with persons not screened by the House, and without an Appropriation Law”.
Amaewhule said: “We believe that now that the Supreme Court has spoken, Governor Siminialayi Fubara would repent from his legion of sins, and those criminals, those impostors, who are parading themselves as appointees of this government without the constitutional imprimatur of this House would desist forthwith.”
The Speaker thanked the justices of the Supreme Court, the political leader of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, members of the Assembly and all those, who contributed in fighting for the entrenchment of democratic principles and ethos in the state.