Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reportedly directed the secret dissolution of the Special Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had previously delivered a favorable ruling on the Rivers State Local Government elections. This move comes amid a deepening political conflict between Wike and his former ally, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
SaharaReporters learned that the court panel, which had ruled in favor of the Fubara administration’s conduct of the Rivers State Local Government elections, was quietly disbanded after its decision. The Court of Appeal had nullified a Federal High Court ruling that had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the local elections. The appellate court, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, concluded that the lower court had no jurisdiction over the matter, as local government elections were not covered under the Electoral Act.
The Court of Appeal panel held that the Electoral Act, which regulates federal elections and governorship races, does not extend to local government elections. Consequently, the Federal High Court’s decision was overturned, as it was deemed to be outside its legal jurisdiction.
Following this ruling, Wike, who has been at odds with Fubara since his tenure as governor, reportedly became displeased with the outcome. In response, he allegedly intervened behind the scenes and sought to influence the judicial process. A source close to the developments told SaharaReporters that Wike reached out to senior judicial figures, leading to the disbandment of the initial panel that delivered the favorable ruling. This decision has fueled further speculation about Wike’s growing influence within the judicial system, particularly considering that his wife is a senior judge.
In an ironic twist, Justice Hamma Barka, who was part of the panel that upheld the original decision, had previously recused himself from handling the Rivers State case due to claims of external pressure and accusations of compromise. This only adds to the mounting concerns over the integrity of the legal process surrounding the Rivers State election disputes.
Wike’s frustrations also stem from a recent financial dispute involving the Rivers State government. The Minister has reportedly been angered by the Accountant General’s decision to release Rivers State’s monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) payment, despite a court order that had initially halted the disbursement. This order, obtained by the factional Rivers State Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, had been issued to prevent the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing funds to the state government.
Despite the court ruling, the Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, had initially announced that it would cease the October FAAC revenue payment to Rivers State. However, after reviewing the situation, the government backtracked, and the funds were eventually released. Bawa Mokwa, spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, clarified that while the office had initially complied with the court order, it was now considering the appeal and the ongoing legal proceedings.
The dispute revolves around an order from the Federal High Court, which required the Rivers State Executive to re-present the 2024 appropriation bill to the factional Assembly led by Amaewhule. Governor Fubara’s administration has challenged the validity of this order, claiming that it was issued in bad faith.
Governor Fubara’s legal team, headed by prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Yusuf Ali, had filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to overturn the Federal High Court’s decision. Fubara contends that the High Court’s order preventing the release of the state’s monthly allocation was made without proper legal grounds. The governor’s appeal seeks to nullify the adverse ruling delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which had significant implications for the state’s finances.
This complex legal and political drama in Rivers State highlights ongoing tensions between the state government, the judiciary, and the federal government, with Wike at the center of the controversy. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how it will affect the future of the state’s governance and its relationship with federal authorities. The actions taken by Wike, along with the judicial changes, are likely to have far-reaching consequences for the state’s political landscape and its financial dealings with the federal government.
