The appeal that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara sought to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling upholding Martin Amaewhule as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly was denied by the Supreme Court.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to report from The Nation, a five member panel of the Supreme Court rejected the appeal, marked SC/CV/1171/2024, after Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali (SAN), applied to withdraw it. Ali stated that “events have overtaken the appeal” but did not elaborate on what he meant.
The respondents’ lawyers, including Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Joseph Daudu, Tuduru Edeh (SAN), and Mini Ayua, who represented some members of the Amaewhule-led Assembly faction, did not oppose the withdrawal of the appeal.
However, Olanipekun and Daudu requested that the court award a cost of N2 million each in their favor, arguing that the parties had already engaged in legal arguments before the withdrawal.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who headed the panel, the court granted their request and awarded the requested costs against Fubara.
This decision marks another legal setback for the Rivers governor in his battle for control over the state legislature.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
