Appeal Court Set Aside Passage of 2024 Budget Signed By Governor Fubara
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, has dismissed an appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the judgement of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Justice Omotosho had in January 2024, nullified the 2024 Rivers State Budget passed by the pro-Fubara lawmakers and set aside the presentation and passage of the Budget.
Justice Omotoso had ordered Governor Fubara, to re-present the budget to the legally constituted House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.
More so, the court ordered Fubara to release all funds accruable to the Rivers House of Assembly and barred the governor from interfering with the activities of the assembly.
However, not satisfied with the judgement of Justice Omotosho, Governor Fubara headed to the Court of Appeal to seek redress.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, a 3-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice J. Oyewole, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.
The panel unanimously held that it was wrong for Governor Fubara to appeal a matter which he didn’t file a counter affidavit at the lower court.
It was the contention of the appellate court that withdrawal of his counter affidavit at the trial court was fatal and incurably defective.
