Rivers Budget: Fubara must re-present to Amaewhule-led Assembly, says Jawondo

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Salman Jawondo, has said the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, must re-present the state budget to the assembly led by Martins Amaewhule.

Jawondo maintained that following the fresh ruling of the Appeal Court, Amaewhule is justified as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The lawyer noted that the constitution binds the governor to engage with the assembly in the budget presentation process, adding that Fubara has the option to either comply with the judgment or seek a stay of execution pending the determination of his appeal.

In an interview with TVC, Jawondo said, “I think, from what the court said, is that having withdrawn his counter-affidavit at the lower court, it means he (Governor Fubara) was already a party and voluntarily, he will do now.

“I think, with this judgment now, the governor has an option to either comply with that judgment or to apply for a Stay of execution of that judgment pending the determination of his appeal. But, as of now, he has to re-present that budget to the assembly led by Martins Amaewhule and its members who defected from PDP to APC.”

ThisNigeria reported on Thursday that the Appeal Court dismissed an appeal filed by Governor Fubara to challenge the lower court judgment nullifying the passage of the state’s 2024 budget.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Joseph Oyewole dismissed the governor’s appeal, describing it as unmeritorious.

Justice Abang, who read judgement on cross appeal, described Fubara as “exhibiting executive recklessness.”

Abang stated that the governor’s actions were “jokes taken too far”, adding that his conduct was “disdainful of the judiciary.”