A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared that Governor Siminialayi Fubara has the legal standing to transact businesses with the three lawmakers that did not vacate their seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to Vanguard News, it delivered the judgment on December 20, 2025, with the Certified True Copy obtained on Sunday.
The court, also on the same day, dismissed the suit seeking to compel Fubara to represent the N800 billion 2024 Budget of the state to the aggrieved 27 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.
This followed a suit, marked: PHC/3552/CS/2024, filed by the Registered Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners against the Government of Rivers State, Governor of Rivers State and Attorney General of the state.
The suit amongst other things sought that the court presided by Justice Sika Aprioku gives an order to compel the defendants to represent the 2024 Budget to the 27 lawmakers.
The claimants in the suit questioned the failure of the defendants to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill of Rivers State to the State House of Assembly led by Amaewhule for enactment into law.
Justice Aprioku in his judgement after considering the arguments of the parties in the matter said the Governor can transact business with the members that did not vacate their seats.
According to the CTC of the judgment obtained by Vanguard News: “The Governor cannot carry on business with those who defected and by that act of defection, lost their seats.
“Therefore, the same way His Excellency Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, presented Budgets and financial Bills with only Six members, when the numbers were less than two third 2/3 of the 32 Members, so shall His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State be constitutionally guided to interface, and approach the properly constituted House of Assembly led by Oko-Jumbo, to carry on business of the State and until the 27 Lawmakers who defected and lost their seats, approaches the Court, for a redemption or INEC conducts another election to the seats vacated by the 27 Lawmakers upon their defection.
“In sum, until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the issue of jurisdiction which affects the status of the 27 Lawmakers, it is only those who did not vacate their seats, the Governor can, constitutionally approach to present budget, appoint Chief Judges and President Customary Court. Also screen Commissioners, including the Attorney General and make Board appointments.
“That the claimant’s claim seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs for the Representation of the 2024 Budget to the former 27 lawmakers, who defected and automatically vacated their seats, lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.
“That this suit be and is hereby dismissed, with cost in the sum of N500,000.00, awarded in favour of the defendants and against the claimant.”
