BREAKING: Gov. Fubara withdraws appeal against Rivers 2024 budget ruling

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has withdrawn his appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which invalidated the state’s 2024 budget.

The development was confirmed on Monday by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Fubara had initially presented the 2024 budget to the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023. However, on October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court, delivered on January 22, 2024, which declared the budget’s passage unlawful.

The controversy arose after lawmakers aligned with Wike, led by Martins Amaewhule, filed a legal challenge against the budget, arguing that it was not properly passed through the recognized legislative body.

Fubara and Wike, once close political allies, have since been embroiled in a power struggle over control of the state’s political structure.

In a statement shared on social media, Olayinka claimed that by withdrawing the appeal, Fubara had effectively admitted to wrongdoing.

He wrote: “Governor Fubara of Rivers State has withdrawn his appeal No. SC/CV/1071/2024 against the Court of Appeal’s decision, which declared the 2024 budget illegal and directed him to present it to the House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.

The court upheld the judgment in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, delivered by Justice J. K. Omotosho, which ruled that the governor must re-submit the budget to the duly recognized House of Assembly.

By withdrawing the appeal, Governor Fubara has accepted the rulings of both the lower and appellate courts, which found that presenting the budget to three lawmakers was unlawful.”

As of now, Governor Fubara’s office has yet to issue an official response regarding the matter.