By Halimah Olamide
An Abuja Federal High Court has nullified the N800bn appropriation presented by Governor Sim Fubara to the state House of Assembly last year as illegal.
Justice James, while delivering his judgment, said the presentation of the budget by Fubara before a four-member House was not constitutional.
NPO Reports that Fubara had presented the budget amidst the crisis that rocked the stating making 25 lawmakers loyal to former Governor and serving Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike to defect to the All Progressive Congress.
Saying that the seats of the lawmakers had become vacant the governror had presented the the budget to the Hon Edison Ehie-led four member House.
The court also upheld the suit filed by the Assembly and Speaker Martin Amaewhule, against Fubara, which sought an order of injunction restraining the governor from frustrating the Assembly under his leadership as speaker, among others.
On December 13, 2023, in the heat of the protracted political crisis rocking the oil-rich state and the demolition of the Assembly Complex, Fubara presented the 2024 budget proposal of N800bn to five members of the State Assembly led by Edison Ehie.
The presentation was done at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following the demolition of the Assembly Complex by the state government and after a court restrained Ehie’s contender, Martins Amaewhule, from using the Assembly Complex.
Ehie and the other pro-Fubara lawmakers passed the budget estimates and the governor signed the bill into law, saying it is aimed at promoting economic development through inclusive growth and addressing socio-economic inequality in the state.