Justice James of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declared null and void the N800 billion budget passed by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This budget, which was swiftly signed into law by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has faced legal scrutiny resulting in its annulment.
The court decision also supported the legal action initiated by the Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, against Governor Fubara. The suit aimed at obtaining an injunction to restrain the governor from impeding the Assembly’s activities under Amaewhule’s leadership as the speaker, among other claims.
Governor Fubara had expedited the signing of the N800 billion 2024 budget into law on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
This action occurred within a remarkably brief period of 24 hours after the budget was presented to a four-man House of Assembly for approval. However, the court’s intervention has now nullified this hasty enactment, highlighting the significance of due legal process in matters of budgetary approval and governance.