Just In: Court Of Appeal Holds Rivers N800b Budget Passed By 5 Lawmakers Is Unconstitutional

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court which set aside the Rivers’ State N800 billion budget passed by five members of the House of Assembly led by the Edison Ehie faction.

The appellate Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara on grounds that it lacked in merit.

Amongst other reasons, the three man panel held that Governor Fubara withdrew his counter-affidavit at the lower Court in the matter and as such cannot commence an appeal in a matter he didn’t challenge at the trial stage.

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The Court held that the presentation of the Bill to the 5 lawmakers by Governor Fubara was against the constitution.

The Court further held that Governor Fubara used his immunity to carry out executive lawlessness as he is expected to apply the rule of law and not the rule of might.

(Editor: Ken Eseni)