The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation, and other federal agencies to stop the disbursement of funds to the Rivers State Government until the state purges itself of what the court described as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
The landmark ruling was delivered on Friday, February 27, 2025, by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, leading a five-man panel of the apex court. The judgment is the latest twist in the prolonged political crisis rocking Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state House of Assembly.
Court Declares Fubara’s Assembly Illegal
In its ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Fubara, challenging the validity of the House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule. The court upheld the position that Amaewhule remains the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, ordering him to resume sitting immediately with the 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
The apex court faulted Governor Fubara for presenting the 2024 Appropriation Bill before a four-man faction of the Assembly led by Edison Ehie, describing it as an aberration that denied 28 constituencies effective representation.
Justice Akomaye accused the governor of executive dictatorship, stating that the actions of Governor Fubara were a clear attempt to undermine the legislature and prevent the Amaewhule-led Assembly from carrying out its duties.
The court also condemned Governor Fubara’s demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, describing it as an act of indiscipline and abuse of executive power. The judge ruled that the governor’s actions were part of a deliberate scheme to frustrate the House from functioning effectively.
LG Chairmen Sacked
In a separate judgment, the Supreme Court declared the local government elections conducted on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as invalid.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Jamilu Tukur said the election violated the Electoral Act and lacked substantial compliance with the law. The court held that RSIEC continued voter registration after announcing the election date, in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act.
The ruling means that all local government chairmen elected during the October 2024 polls have been sacked.
Political Crisis Deepens
The ruling comes amid months of political turmoil in Rivers State following the fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The feud divided the state House of Assembly into two factions — one loyal to Wike, led by Amaewhule, and the other backing Fubara, led by Edison Ehie.
The crisis escalated into parallel sittings, the impeachment plot against Fubara, mass resignations by pro-Wike commissioners, and the controversial demolition of the Assembly complex.
The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled in October 2024 that the N800 billion budget passed by the Ehie-led faction was invalid, describing the situation in Rivers State as executive dictatorship.
Also, With the Supreme Court’s verdict, Governor Fubara is now under pressure to obey court orders and recognize the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. The ruling has effectively frozen the state’s access to federal funds, raising fears of a potential governance shutdown in the oil-rich state.
Political analysts believe the judgment could force both factions to the negotiation table, but the crisis is far from over.
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