Kunle Adegoke SAN has urged political parties to set aside personal interests and prioritize the welfare of Rivers State citizens, following the Court of Appeal’s nullification of the Rivers state 2024 budget.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a lower court’s decision to invalidate the 2024 budget of Rivers State, which was signed into law and is currently being operationalised by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Joseph Oyewole, unanimously affirmed the House’s faction, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, as the legitimate legislative authority. This faction had previously invalidated the state’s 2024 budget.
After the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal against its decision on January 22, Mr. Oyewole issued the statements.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Kunle Adegoke SAN, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, emphasized the need for political parties to set aside personal egos and interests. He urged that, at this critical juncture, the focus should shift towards prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians, particularly the citizens of Rivers State.
He emphasized the importance of addressing the ongoing crisis and disagreements among the people, urging that “it is very necessary that they (parties involved) call themselves to order.”
He indicated that the only legal recourse available to the parties is to appeal to the Supreme Court to determine the correctness of the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of the law, but as for the status of the budget now, “it is a nullity.”
Adegoke emphasized that, at this point, there are no clear winners or losers in the ongoing dispute, as the Court of Appeal’s ruling did not determine the governor’s removal from office or alter his tenure. He noted that as long as the governor seeks to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court, the question of the budget’s validity will remain a contentious issue, prolonging the conflict between the parties involved.
The Senior Advocate highlighted that nullifying the budget will significantly impact actions already taken during its implementation. He noted that most of these actions are irreversible, as they have been completed in various projects.
He warned that continuing with the budget implementation could become increasingly challenging, as potential service providers may hesitate to engage with the government due to fear of uncertainty. He emphasised, “The implication is that the grass that will suffer will be the people of Rivers state.”
Frances Ibiefo
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