On Friday, the Supreme Court affirmed the Rivers House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule as the authentic and legally constituted legislature.

A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji gave the order in a lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.

The apex court also restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria and the accountant-general of the federation from further releasing budgetary allocations to Rivers until a lawfully constituted house of assembly passes a valid Appropriation Act.

In a unanimous judgment on Friday, the panel ordered that Mr Amaewhule and other 26 members of the assembly, who were alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties unhindered.

The Supreme Court further ordered that all members of the House of Assembly are to resume normal legislative businesses without any hindrance to any members.

Mr Agim condemned the conduct of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who he said chose to destroy the government of Rivers and resort to acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.

The apex court set aside the earlier judgement of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers.

The panel equally awarded a cost of N5 million against Mr Fubara and the government of Rivers, to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Mr Amaewhule.

(NAN)