Supreme Court Ruling Did Not Settle Rivers State Speaker Dispute – Falana

Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has clarified that the recent Supreme Court ruling on the appeal by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara against the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly did not determine who the authentic Speaker of the House is.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana emphasized that the appeal was dismissed not on merit but because Fubara’s legal team, led by Yusuf Ali, withdrew it, deeming the matter an academic exercise. He explained that the case initially stemmed from a dispute over the 2024 budget proposal, which the governor noted had already been passed into law, making further litigation unnecessary.

The Supreme Court’s five-man panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the appeal based on this withdrawal, but Falana stressed that this decision did not address the legitimacy of the Speaker. He dismissed claims suggesting otherwise, stating that the issue never came up in court.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has been embroiled in a crisis since 2023 when over 25 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The leadership of the House has since been contested between Amaewhule’s faction and a rival group led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, who is aligned with Fubara. The governor has continued to conduct state affairs with the Oko-Jumbo-led faction while disregarding Amaewhule’s group.

Falana further stated that, under the law, three members of the state House of Assembly can carry out legislative functions except in matters related to the governor’s impeachment. He argued that the 27 lawmakers who defected to the APC effectively lost their seats, as their positions were declared vacant.