Wike Hits Fubara As Court Declares Rivers N800billion 2024 Budget  Illegal,  Nullifies Decision By Four- Member Assembly

….Endorses 27 Wike loyalists

By Ayodele Oni

There are indications of a possible setback in the implementation of the 2024 Budget of Rivers State following the pronouncement, Monday, by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Court nullified the N800bn 2024 Budget already signed into law by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The Governor had, in December, presented an N800bn 2024 Appropriation Bill to a faction of the state House of Assembly, made up of only four Lawmakers.

This was at the peak of the crisis between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesome Wike, now minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

Following the passage of the budget by the lawmakers, Fubara subsequently signed it into law.

The Rivers Assembly became factionalized following a move by 27 lawmakers loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.

The presiding Judge, James Omotosho, held that everything done by the four lawmakers is illegal, null and void.

The Court also recognized the other faction of the Assembly being led by Amaewhule as the Speaker.

Already, the 27 lawmakers, loyal to Wike have decamped to the All Progressives Congress,(APC), while the Speaker of the four members loyal to Fubara has resigned his membership of the Assembly.

There seems to be  relative peace following Intervention of President Bola Tinubu twice, as some of the loyalists of Wike in the state cabinet that resigned in the wake of the crisis have returned.