The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, explained yesterday that the 27 lawmakers petitioned the court to halt federal allocations to the state because Governor Siminalayi Fubara had continuously ignored the rule of law.
He accused the governor of showing disdain for due process and failing to abide by court rulings and constitutional provisions.
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Amaewhule also directed criticism at Fubara’s appointees and top civil servants, warning that they would face justice for assisting the governor in undermining the law.
In response, Governor Fubara fired back, accusing his detractors of attempting to sabotage the state’s progress and frustrate the implementation of critical projects.
The matter was discussed at the 65th sitting of the House of Assembly, held at the legislative quarters on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, where the Amaewhule-led Assembly resolved that such a breach of the law could not go unpunished.
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A statement from Martins Wachukwu, Amaewhule’s Special Assistant on Media, outlined that the lawmakers had reviewed the governor’s actions while deliberating on the recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The court ruled in favor of the House, halting the governor’s withdrawal of funds from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund until the 2024 Appropriation Bill was passed by a properly constituted Assembly.
The lawmakers applauded Justice J.O. Abdulmalik’s ruling, which ordered the governor to cease withdrawals until the House of Assembly passed the appropriation law.
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This decision came after the House rejected the governor’s refusal to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill on July 15.
Following that rejection, the Assembly instructed the governor to halt expenditures in accordance with Section 122 of the 1999 Constitution.
In response, the lawmakers filed an action at the Federal High Court to determine whether the governor could lawfully access state funds without the required Appropriation Law.
The court ruled in favor of the Assembly, ordering that the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and other related financial institutions should withhold funds until the governor complied with the Constitution.
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Reflecting on the ruling, Amaewhule stated, “Since July 1, 2024, Governor Fubara has been spending state funds without the necessary approval, which is why we called for the shutdown of expenditure.” He accused the governor of consistently flouting court judgments, the Constitution, and other laws, with assistance from Permanent Secretaries and some commissioners.”
“They will certainly have their day in court,” he warned.
Amaewhule also expressed his appreciation to the lawmakers for their unwavering commitment to defending democracy, and he reaffirmed that those who violated the Constitution would be held accountable.
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He further criticized the governor and his appointees for illegally continuing to spend from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without a valid Appropriation Law. Amaewhule emphasized that this amounted to a subversion of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara responded by assuring that, despite the ongoing challenges, his administration would remain focused on delivering key projects and services to the people of Rivers State.
He promised that the Bori and Omoku Zonal Hospitals would be completed by the end of the year, emphasizing his commitment to providing affordable healthcare, quality education, and developing the state’s infrastructure.
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Fubara made these remarks during an inspection of the Omoku Zonal Hospital project in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
“I want to assure the people of Rivers State that, despite the distractions, we remain focused on governance,” he said.
“Our eyes are on the ball, and we will ensure that this project, along with the Bori Zonal Hospital, is completed on time by the end of the year.”
He praised the contractor for adhering to the project specifications, noting that the hospital would feature essential facilities, including a mortuary, laundry, and accommodation for healthcare workers.
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“This is a world-class hospital, and we are working according to specifications to ensure the best healthcare service for our people,” Fubara stated.
The governor also visited the Ikiri section of the 33.5-kilometer Elele-Egbeda-Omoku dualized road, which connects three local government areas: Ikwerre, Emohua, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
The road project, which includes a river-crossing bridge, was flagged off in May as part of the governor’s first-year anniversary.
Despite challenges posed by the rainy season and flooding, Fubara expressed confidence that the contractor was performing well and that the road would be completed as promised.
“We are facing challenges due to the rainy season and flooding, but the contractor is doing a good job. I believe this project will be delivered as planned,” Fubara said.
He further emphasized the significance of the road as part of his administration’s focus on infrastructure development to benefit the people of Rivers State.
