A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment on the political crisis in Rivers State has revealed why the apex court restored the leadership of the State House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.
The court ruled that there was no evidence to support the claim that 27 lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Furthermore, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who initially accused the lawmakers of defection, later withdrew the allegations at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
With no substantiated claims of defection, the Supreme Court held that, in the eyes of the law, the Rivers State House of Assembly remained intact, and Amaewhule’s leadership must be recognized.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who signed the judgment, emphasized that the 1999 Constitution does not recognize a four-member Assembly, as claimed by Governor Fubara. The ruling declared it unconstitutional for the governor to engage with only a faction of the Assembly while disregarding the majority.
The judgment further criticized the governor’s actions, stating that his attempt to prevent the 27 lawmakers from participating in legislative duties amounted to “subversion of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Constitution, and democratic governance.”
Additionally, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold funds meant for the Rivers State government until an Appropriation Law is passed by the legally constituted House of Assembly.
The ruling also directed Martin Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers to resume legislative duties immediately without interference, affirming them as the legitimate lawmakers of Rivers State.