Rivers State Crisis: Rep. Solomon Bob Tackles Femi Falana Over Supreme Court Ruling
Oru Leonard
A war of words has erupted between Rep. Solomon T. Bob and human rights lawyer Femi Falana over the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Governor Siminilayi Fubara’s appeal. The appeal was against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the judgment of Justice Joseph Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
At the heart of the controversy is Falana’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which he claimed only related to the 2024 appropriation law and was therefore merely academic. However, Rep. Bob countered that the judgment had far-reaching implications, including restraining Governor Fubara from making any requests or presentations to the Rivers State House of Assembly except to the House under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
Rep. Bob also accused Falana of misleading the public on the status of the 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Falana had claimed that they lost their seats, but Rep. Bob argued that the Federal High Court’s judgment, affirmed by the Court of Appeal, recognized their continued membership.
This development is the latest in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, which has seen Governor Fubara at odds with the state’s House of Assembly. The situation has been marked by controversy, including the disputed leadership of the House and allegations of constitutional abuse.
The crisis has led to a series of legal battles, including the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Governor Fubara’s appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal. This ruling has sparked controversy and debate among legal practitioners and political analysts.
The impending Supreme Court ruling on the validity of the N800 billion suit filed by the Rivers State Government against the federal government will likely have far-reaching implications for governance, politics, and economic development in the state.
