In a recent development, a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria. has made a decision regarding the suit filed by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The court declined to bar Governor Fubara from spending government funds while the case is being heard.
Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on the motion ex parte, refused to grant the request to stop Governor Fubara from accessing public funds at this stage but instructed the plaintiffs to inform the defendants about the case. The judge did, however, allow the plaintiffs to serve the 5th to 10th defendants by alternative means, stating, “the leave is hereby granted to the plaintiffs/applicants, to serve the 5th to 10th defendants/respondents with the plaintiffs/applicants’ originating, and any other process (es) filed or issued in this suit by substituted means to wit: by publishing same in the Nation Newspapers.”
The case involves key entities such as Mr. Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers, Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice S.C. Amadi, Chairperson of RSIEC, Adolphus Enebeli, and the Government of Rivers State. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on the 7th of August.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and Martin Amaewhule, as the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs respectively, initiated the lawsuit represented by their counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN, against the Central Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank Plc. The court’s decision sets the stage for a significant legal battle in Rivers State.
