The Rivers State Government has issued a press release to address the misinformation circulating in the media about the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Governor of Rivers State vs. Rivers State House of Assembly and 15 others.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, clarified that the Supreme Court did not reinstate Martin Amaewhule and 26 others as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Instead, the court dismissed the Governor’s appeal due to its lack of utilitarian value, as the 2024 budget has already been spent and cannot be reactivated.
Iboroma emphasized that the case focused primarily on the Appropriation Law 2024, and the defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not an issue for determination.
He explained, “On November 29, 2023, Martin Chike Amaewhule and another filed Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Their originating summons contained 11 reliefs claimed by Martin Chike Amaewhule and others.
“On December 11, 2023, while Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 was pending at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the PDP to the APC, automatically losing their seats as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, the defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others was not an issue for determination, nor was it in the resultant appeals.
“Furthermore, before judgment was delivered in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others did not inform the court of their defection from the PDP to the APC. This suit was principally about the Appropriation Law 2024, also known as the 2024 budget.”
Iboroma noted, “We are now in 2025, with the 2025 Appropriation Bill already passed, signed into law, and in operation. The 2024 Appropriation Law is now entirely spent and cannot be brought back into operation. The funds allocated in the 2024 budget have been used and cannot be recalled and spent again. As a result, the Supreme Court case SC/CV/1701/2024 became merely academic and of no utilitarian value.”
He urged the public to ignore the false narrative and propaganda being spread by Amaewhule and his lawyers regarding the Supreme Court judgment. The government assured the public that it would continue to uphold the rule of law and defend the constitution.
