Supreme Court throws out Gov. Fubara’s case to remove 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in Rivers
On Monday, February 10, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a suit filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, seeking to remove 27 members of the State House of Assembly loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.
The dismissal came after Fubara’s lead counsel, Yusuf Ali SAN, withdrew the case, informing a 3-man panel of Justices that “events had overtaken the suit.” The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, did not object to the withdrawal, and the court ruled without opposition.
The case, which had already been dismissed by the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court earlier in 2024, had been contentious due to Governor Fubara’s attempts to push forward budget presentations and other legislative activities with only a small group of lawmakers. The Supreme Court ruling now clears the path for the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike to fully take over the House.
The court also awarded N4 million in costs against Governor Fubara, to be paid to the House of Assembly and Speaker Amaewhule. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze commented that this judgment had removed all obstacles for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to take control, declaring that actions taken by Fubara in their absence were now void.
The drama surrounding the case began when the Federal High Court, in January 2024, had nullified the passage of Rivers State’s N800 billion 2024 budget by just four lawmakers loyal to Fubara. The court declared that their actions were illegal and ordered the budget be re-presented to the full, legitimate Assembly led by Amaewhule.
