The Supreme Court ruling on the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly has ended impunity in the oil-rich state, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said on Friday.
The apex court in its ruling on Friday, barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State until it purges itself of what the court describes as flagrant disobedience to court orders.
The five-man panel of the court unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.
The Supreme Court also nullified the recent local government elections the state, declaring the election invalid for grossly violating the Electoral Act.
Shortly after the verdict, the minister briefed reporters and hailed the judiciary for upholding the rule of law.
“If you allow this, one day one member will constitute an assembly and there is nothing you can do, it is unheard of. We must commend the judiciary for being bold to say this impunity must not be allowed,” Wike said.
“You failed to follow the Electoral Act in terms of conducting local government elections. People were hailing him (Governor Siminalyi Fubara) ‘Yes you have done well.”
Wike, a former Rivers State Governor, also took a swipe at the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for supporting Governor Siminalyi Fubara.
He said the Rivers State Governor has no choice but to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s verdict, as it represents the final legal authority on the matter.
“I hope they will also hail him today. I hope the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum will also hail him today. Supreme Court has come out to say enough is enough, we must not truncate our democracy,” he added.
The FCT Minister said this issue which has lasted for over 15 months has now been laid to rest by the highest court of the land and the only thing anyone can do now is appeal the judgement to God
“People are saying Wike Wike, It’s not about me, how can a man demolish the edifice of the state assembly and take his fraction to his house, it is unheard of.
“For me, it is happiness for Nigerians as well as Rivers people, the impunity must stop. You can’t allow such to happen, We can not allow anyone to truncate the democracy of the country,” he stated.
Wike stated that it is not about hiring 40 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, it is about upholding the rule of law and having competent people to handle the case.
