By Hassanat Adebowale
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved judgment in four separate appeals related to the ongoing political leadership crisis in Rivers State. Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, leading a five-member panel of justices, announced that the judgments would be delivered on a date to be communicated to the parties after hearing arguments from the involved lawyers.
The four appeals include cases between the Rivers House of Assembly and the Rivers State Government, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and the Accountant General of Rivers State.
These appeals stem from rulings made by the Federal High Court in Abuja. One of the significant rulings prohibited the release of monthly funds to Rivers State from the Federation Account until the governor presented the budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly. Another ruling barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the state government for the purpose of conducting local government elections.
In one notable judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the suspension of federal allocations to Rivers State until the budget was presented before the House of Assembly members led by Martin Amaewhule. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned this judgment, citing grave injustice in the findings and decisions.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal nullified a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, also of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had barred the conduct of the October 5, 2024, local government council elections in Rivers State due to non-compliance with the state’s laws on local government elections.
During Monday’s proceedings, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu represented the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while Chris Uche, SAN, led the faction supporting Governor Fubara.
The political leadership tussle in Rivers State has led to a series of legal battles, with various factions vying for control. The Supreme Court’s pending judgments are expected to have significant implications for the resolution of the crisis.
The separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The crisis in Rivers State touches on several constitutional principles, including the presentation of state budgets, the autonomy of state assemblies, and the conduct of local government elections in line with state laws.
The Supreme Court’s decision will likely clarify the extent to which the executive branch can operate independently of the legislature, especially when there are questions regarding the legitimacy of lawmakers following alleged defections or political realignments. Additionally, it will reinforce the role of the judiciary in maintaining checks and balances within the state governance framework.
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