The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, affirmed the January 22 judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by four members of the State House of Assembly.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Joseph Oyewole on behalf of a three-member panel of Justices, the court held that the appeal filed by the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, against the January 22 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court lacked merit and was accordingly dismissed.
Justice Oyewole stated that having failed to challenge the case at the trial court—by withdrawing all the documents filed against the suit—Governor Fubara could not now seek to appeal the judgment.
The court also awarded a cost of N500,000 against the appellant, to be paid to the defendants in the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024.
It would be recalled that the trial court had nullified the 2024 Rivers budget passed by pro-Fubara lawmakers and set aside the presentation and passage of the Rivers State 2024 budget. The court’s judgment also ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.
…Details later.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV
- Relationship Hangout: Public vs Private Proposals – Which Truly Wins in Love?
- “No” Is a Complete Sentence: Why You Should Stop Feeling Guilty
- Relationship Hangout: Friendship Talk 2025 – How to Be a Good Friend & Big Questions on Friendship
- Police Overpower Armed Robbers in Ibadan After Fierce Struggle
