Governor Fubara’s Chief Of Staff Exposes Misconceptions: Legal Battle Far From Over

The Rivers State Government has clarified that its legal challenge concerning the leadership of the State House of Assembly and the status of lawmakers who defected in December 2023 is still pending before the Supreme Court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This clarification was issued by Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in a Facebook post addressing speculations about a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Ehie explained that the Supreme Court’s decision on Monday, February 10, 2025, pertained specifically to an Appeal Court judgment that directed Governor Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget to the Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly. Since the 2024 budget had already been expended, Governor Fubara chose to withdraw his appeal against this ruling, deeming further legal action unnecessary.

He clarified: “This appeal, SC/CV/1071/2024: GOV of Rivers State v Rivers State House of Assembly & Ors, which came up today at the Supreme Court, has become purely academic.”

Ehie further noted that the case originated from SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, filed on November 29, 2023, before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The suit pertained solely to the 2024 budget, which was fully utilized by December 31, 2024, marking the end of the fiscal year.

“The appeal is of no useful purpose in this year 2025, which has its budget. The only reasonable thing left to do was to withdraw the appeal and have it dismissed,” he said.

Ehie emphasized that the withdrawn appeal is unrelated to the legal dispute over the defection of 27 lawmakers, including Martins Amaewhule. He explained that on December 11, 2023, Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, thereby vacating their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly under constitutional provisions.

“This appeal that was withdrawn today has nothing to do with the seats of Martin Chike Amaewhule and his 26 friends in the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he said.

Ehie urged the public not to be misled by false propaganda from the lawmakers, reaffirming that the case regarding their defections is still before the Supreme Court.