As part of the implementation, the governor directed all sacked chairmen of the state’s 23 local government areas to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs).

Recall that on Friday, February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a ruling delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, declared the October 5, 2024, local government elections invalid, nullifying the emergence of 23 chairmen and 319 councillors.

The court also recognised Martins Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, alongside 26 other lawmakers as the authentic members of the legislature.

Additionally, the apex court voided the state budget and ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt further fund disbursement to the Rivers State government until Governor Fubara re-presents the budget before the duly recognized House of Assembly, led by Speaker Amaewhule.

Addressing the state in a broadcast on Sunday, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law and immediately directed Heads of Local Government Administration to take charge of council affairs pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Fubara said: “I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers, and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgments may be available to them by Friday, 7th March 2025.

“I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgments, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the State forward.

“I further direct the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Personnel Management by Monday, 3rd March 2025.”

The governor noted with regrets the trying times the state had been plunged into but urged everyone to remain calm and peacefully go about their legitimate daily activities and be sure that his administration would continue to do everything in meeting their aspirations.

Fubara said: “We are all aware of the recent Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements regarding aspects of the lingering political disputes in our dear State.

“Although we disagree with the judgments, we are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government.

“Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process and the rule of law.

“While we are not above mistakes because we are humans, we believe that we have not, as a government, done anything deliberately to trample on the rule of law or the hallowed principles of constitutional governance.

“Accordingly, I have had a meeting with my team of lawyers, and they have assured me that the certified true copy of the judgments may be available to them by Friday, 7th March 2025.

“I assure you that upon the receipt of certified judgements, we shall study their ramifications and implement them without reservations to move the State forward.”

The post Fubara Bows To Supreme Court’s Judgment, Directs Implementation appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

This decision comes as a result of what the court described as the state’s flagrant disobedience to court orders.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, the five-man panel unanimously dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which challenged the validity of the Rivers State House of Assembly presided over by Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker.

The court ruled that Martin Amaewhule should immediately resume sitting with all other elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Supreme Court emphasized that Governor Fubara’s action of presenting an appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly was an aberration, depriving 28 constituencies of proper representation and violating a court order that mandated the governor to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill before a validly constituted Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.

The court further condemned Governor Fubara’s actions regarding the alleged defection of 28 members of the Rivers Assembly, describing it as an act of “brigandage and dictatorship,” aimed at obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its legitimate duties under the leadership of Amaewhule.

The judgement also criticised the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex by Governor Fubara, calling it an excessive use of executive power to frustrate the functioning of the Assembly.

In a separate judgment, the Supreme Court declared the local government election held on October 5, 2024, by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) invalid.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, delivering the ruling, found that the election violated the Electoral Act, with RSIEC continuing voter registration even after announcing the election date. The court ruled that the electoral process had been abridged in clear violation of Section 150 of the Electoral Act, rendering the election void for lack of substantial compliance with the law.

The post Supreme Court Orders CBN to Halt Funds to Rivers State Govt, Directs Amaewhule to Resume appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

In the suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, was filed on May 20, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Federal Government is praying the Apex Court for an order prohibiting State Governors from unilateral, arbitrary, and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected leaders for local governments.

Fagbemi has also asked the Supreme Court for an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of Local Governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by Governors.

In addition, the prayer wants an order stopping Governors from constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments as against the constitutionally recognized and guaranteed democratic system.

Also, the federal government wants an order of injunction restraining the Governors, their agents, and privies from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected Local Government system is put in place in the states.

The post FG Drags State Governors To Supreme Court Over Local Govt Autonomy appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Apex Court in its ruling on Thursday held that the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, lacked merit.

Justice Inyang Okoro said, “On the whole, having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is my view that there is no merit in the appeal and it is hereby dismissed.

“The judgment of the court below delivered on September 6th 2023 affirming the election of the second respondent as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby affirmed.”

Atiku had approached the court to overturn the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal which affirmed Tinubu’s election as president.

The post Breaking: Supreme Court Confirms Tinubu As Winner Of 2023 Pres. Election appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Peter Obi of the Labour (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed the appeals after the PEPC judgment.

Citing section 182 of the Electoral Ect, Justice Okoro says Atiku failed to apply to the court to amend his petition to bring fresh evidence against Tinubu.

Justice Okoro noted that Atiku’s attempt to introduce fresh evidence with a view to extend the time to adjudicate the case is unfortunate.

Consequently, he said, since the Presidential Election Petition Court has no jurisdiction to entertain fresh evidence, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to accept fresh evidence.

He said it has to be noted that the 180 days imposed is immutable, and cannot be extended.

According to him, on this application, fresh evidence is not received as a matter of cause.

The post Supreme Court Rejects Fresh Evidence Against Tinubu appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states and joined by some states is seeking a restraining order to stop the full implementation of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The post Supreme Court Adjourns Suit On Old, New Naira Notes appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The Supreme Court dismissed the suit alleging certificate forgery against the governor and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2020 governorship election in the state, Daily Dates Nigeria.

In the run-up to the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its chieftains, Williams Edobor, had filed a suit against Obaseki at the Federal High Court, Abuja, alleging that the governor forged his Ordinary level (O’level) and university degree certificates which he tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of his qualifications for the September 19, 2020, governorship election in Edo State.

The plaintiffs had asked the court to disqualify the first defendant, who won the election, in the event that he forged his university certificate obtained from the University of Ibadan (UI) in 1979.

However, in a judgement on January 9, 2021, the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held that the plaintiffs provided no iota of evidence before the court to establish that Obaseki forged either his O’level certificate or his degree certificate and therefore dismissed the suit.

Dissatisfied with the court’s decision, the APC had approached the Court of Appeal.

In a March 18, 2021, judgement, the appellate court held that the lower court was right in its findings and conclusions.

The court also held that the appeal lacked merit, and dismissed the suit accordingly.

The post Edo Governor, Obaseki Wins As Supreme Court Dismisses Forgery Suit appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The apex court, in a decision by a seven-man panel of Justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, reinstated the judgement it gave on January 14, which declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as the validly elected governor of Imo state.

In the lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the apex court, held that Ihedioha’s application to set-aside the judgement that removed him from office lacked merit.

The post Supreme Court Reinstates Imo State Governorship Election Judgement appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

 The Apex court nullified the APC candidates at the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State.

The adjournment was to enable all parties involved in the matter to be served with necessary processes.

The post Zamfara: Supreme Court Adjourns Review Of Its Judgement appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.