The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Governor of Rivers State Siminalayi Fubara. The appeal (No. SC/CV/1071/2024) is challenging the Appeal Court's judgment that declared the state's 2024 budget illegal. The appellate court had ordered him to re-present the budget to the House of Assembly led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The Court of Appeal had earlier upheld the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, which mandated Governor Fubara to submit the budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly for approval.
Galaxy Television reports that Counsel to the Governor, Yusuf Ali at the hearing of the matter announced the decision of his Counsel to withdraw the matter due to the fact that it has been overtaken by event. Counsels to first and Second Respondents, Chief Wole Olanipekun, opposed the application noting that issues has been joined and a lot of efforts has been dissipated on the matter. He asked for a cost of #2 million
On his part, Counsel to the 3rd to 12tu Respondent, Joseph Daodu, supported the application but also asked for the cost of #2 million. Ruling on the matter, Justice Juwani Abba-Aji, who presided over the five man panel dismissed the appeal and awarded a cost of #2million against the appellant to the first to 12 Respondents.
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