Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has withdrawn his appeal (No. SC/CV/1071/2024) challenging the Appeal Court’s judgment that declared the state’s 2024 budget illegal.
The appellate court had ordered him to re-present the budget to the House of Assembly led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The Court of Appeal had earlier upheld the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, which mandated Governor Fubara to submit the budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly for approval.
Counsel to governor Fubara had informed the court of a notice of withdrawal filed on February 6, seeking to withdraw the appeal on the grounds that, “the appeal has been overtaken by events”.
In his Response Wole Olanipekun,who represented Rivers State House of Assembly and Mr Amaewhule, pointed out that since issues have been joined by all parties, the proper thing for the court to do is to dismiss the appeal instead of striking it out.
In a short ruling, Justice Aba-Aji, granted the application and dismissed the appeal.
She also granted the request for cost of N2 million in favour of the 1st to 12 respondents.
