Despite Court Order, Fubara To Present 2025 Rivers Budget To Four-Member Assembly

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has announced that he would present the state’s 2025 budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led State House of Assembly.

Osun Defender reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing further monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government, citing alleged constitutional violations by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

In her ruling on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik found that Governor Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget to a four-member House of Assembly breached constitutional protocol.

The court order further restricts the CBN, the Accountant General of the Federation, and the state’s accounts at Zenith Bank and Access Bank from releasing any funds to Fubara.

The judge contended that the governor’s actions ignored constitutional requirements for budget approval by a fully constituted House of Assembly.

Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2024, Justice Abdulmalik declared that decisions made by the four-member Fubara-backed assembly were void, referencing prior rulings by the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal that had annulled its authority.

The governor noted that the state government would continue to collaborate with the Assembly to improve the lives of Rivers residents, highlighting the positive relationship between the executive and legislative branches, as demonstrated in the screening of nominees and the prompt passage of executive bills.

Fubara made this known during the official commissioning of two ultra-modern community town halls and the launch of a tertiary scholarship and empowerment program by the Speaker at Akiama and Aganya communities in Bonny Local Government Area on Saturday.

A statement on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, noted that the Governor was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Edison Ehie.

The statement quoted Fubara as saying, “The government and the people of Rivers State heartily congratulate you and thank you for being a good ambassador of the Ibani Kingdom. We assure you that, as the executive arm, while the legislative arm remains independent, we will continue to collaborate to ensure prosperity for our people.

“I thank you, Mr Speaker, for your support to the Rivers State government, as seen in your cooperation. The Speaker has facilitated the screening of caretaker committee chairmen, expedited executive requests, and will soon play a vital role in enacting the 2025 budget.”

Fubara added that the Speaker’s focus on constituency projects reflects his role as an elected representative, contrasting it with the inaction of 25 former lawmakers he described as “Abuja-based politicians.”

“Constituency projects are a testament to elected representatives’ commitment to their people. Meanwhile, the 25 former Assembly members who dismissed themselves — have they initiated any projects? Do we see them inspecting or commissioning anything? These are Abuja-based politicians!”

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The governor commended the Speaker for establishing the town halls, providing financial empowerment to 100 Bonny indigenes, and awarding tertiary scholarships to 30 Bonny students.

In his remarks, the Speaker thanked the people of Bonny for their support
for the 10th Assembly and expressed confidence in his backing of the governor.

He stressed that the Assembly would stay focused despite opposition from “enemies of the state” or the 25 former members.

Oko-Jumbo revealed that the 2025 budget would soon be presented to the 10th Assembly and confirmed that Bonny Local Government would be included in upcoming infrastructure projects.

He added, “We will continue working tirelessly to ensure Bonny Kingdom’s development. Many needs remain, but as the Speaker, I assure you that the 2025 budget, which will soon be presented by His Excellency, will include Bonny Local Government.”