A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to grant an interim order barring Governor Siminalayi Fubara from spending government funds pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ruling on the motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, Justice Emeka Nwite declined to grant the plaintiffs’ prayers but ordered them to notify the defendants. However, Justice Nwite granted permission for the plaintiffs to serve the 5th to 10th defendants by substituted means, specifically by publishing the necessary documents in the Nation Newspapers.
The judge adjourned the matter to August 7th for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The 5th to 10th defendants in the case are:
- Mr. Fubara
- The Accountant-General of Rivers State
- The Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)
- The Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice S.C. Amadi
- The Chairperson of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli
- The Government of Rivers State
The 1st and 2nd plaintiffs, being the Rivers State House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule, had filed the suit through their counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN, against the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank PLC, and the Accountant General of the Federation as the 1st to 4th defendants.
Fubara’s Response
Governor Fubara recently stated his commitment to governing the state uprightly, refusing to yield to political pressure to govern “on bended knees.”
โI will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear State on my knees (bending). If that was the purpose, I would not do that. I will stand to govern our dear State and stand continually on the side of right,โ Fubara emphasized.
Fubara made these remarks at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he was accompanied by some state elders to commiserate with Sir Omehia on the loss of his mother.
He urged true lovers of Rivers State to unite and resolutely fight to safeguard the state’s interests. He also decried the negative impact of politics of bitterness on the state’s progress and called for a rejection of such practices.
Assembly Meeting
The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly is currently holding a meeting. As of now, the outcome of the meeting has not been announced, following the court’s decision not to bar Governor Fubara from spending government funds pending the resolution of the lawsuit.
