Court nullifies Rivers’ N800bn budget passed by four lawmakers

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the N800bn budget for 2024 passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly in December.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had signed the state’s N800 billion Appropriation Bill into law, barely 24 hours after it was presented to a four-man House of Assembly for approval.

This development was due to the division in the assembly as 27 out the 32 members had decamped to the All Progressives Congress, an opposition party.

James Omotosho, the Presiding Judge, held that the passage of the bill by the four lawmakers was illegal and had rendered the document null and void.

The court also directed that Martin Amaewhulebe be recognised as the Speaker of the House.