Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has shed light on the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara against the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
According to Falana, the court’s decision has nothing to do with determining the authentic Speaker of the House.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, February 10, 2025, Falana explained that the appeal was dismissed not on merit but due to withdrawal by the appellant. He stated, “When an appeal is dismissed not on merit but on the basis of withdrawal by the appellant, the question of celebration doesn’t arise.”
Falana revealed that Governor Fubara’s lawyers withdrew the appeal, citing that the issue had become an academic exercise. “What happened in this case is that the governor of Rivers State instructed his lawyers to withdraw the appeal on the grounds that it has become an academic exercise. In other words, the issues are no longer alive and therefore, why do you want to waste the time of the court?” he said.
The lawyer emphasized that the court did not determine who is the speaker or who is not the speaker, stating, “It wasn’t contrary to what a colleague was saying; the court did not determine who is a speaker or who is not a speaker, no, it didn’t come up.”
Falana also pointed out that the 2024 budget proposal, which was the issue that led to the appeal, has already been passed into law, making further litigation unnecessary.
The Rivers State Assembly crisis began in 2023 when over 25 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Amaewhule’s leadership of the House was then contested by lawmakers in a rival group led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, a three-member faction believed to be loyal to Fubara.
Falana clarified that three members of the state House of Assembly can carry out legislative functions, except when it comes to impeaching the governor. He also insisted that the 27 PDP lawmakers who decamped to the APC lost their seats because they were declared vacant.
