The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the suit by Governor Siminalayi Fubara seeking to remove 27 State House of Assembly members on the grounds of their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered the judgment following the dramatic withdrawal of the appeal by Mr Fubara through his lead counsel, Yusuf Ali.
Fubara, in the notice for withdrawal of the case, informed a three-man panel of justices of the court that events have overtaken his suit and that the lawmakers are their friends.
The request to withdraw the contentious suit was not opposed by the Rivers States House of Assembly and its speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
Mr Olanipekun, however, demanded outright dismissal of the suit on the premise that parties had filed and exchanged their brief arguments and thus joined issues with each other.
He argued that the proper order to be made in the circumstances is the dismissal of the case, which the court agreed with.
Following no objections from the parties, the apex court dismissed it and awarded N2 million each against Mr Fubara to be paid to the House of Assembly and Mr Amaewhule.
Addressing journalists shortly after the dismissal of the suit, Ken Njemanze said the coast has finally been cleared for the 27 lawmakers to take over the House of Assembly fully.
Mr Njemanze said all steps taken by Mr Fubara in the absence of the 27 lawmakers, including the presentation of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to only four lawmakers, have become a nullity.
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