The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, seeking to remove 27 members of the State House of Assembly over their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed Fubara’s appeal on October 10, 2024, affirming a lower court ruling. Similarly, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on January 22, 2024, nullified the passage of Rivers State’s ₦800 billion 2024 budget by just four lawmakers led by Hon. Ehie Edison, describing it as an “aberration and illegality.”
Delivering the ruling, Justice Musa Uwani-Aba-Aji of the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal after Governor Fubara, through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), formally withdrew the suit.
Fubara, in his notice of withdrawal, told the three-member panel of Justices that “events have overtaken the suit and that the lawmakers are now their friends.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal. However, Olanipekun urged the court to dismiss the case outright, arguing that parties had already filed and exchanged briefs of arguments, making dismissal the appropriate order.
The Supreme Court agreed and dismissed the case accordingly.
