Some media reports (Not Nigerian NewsDirect) speculating that Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew an appeal against Amaewuhle as a concession or acceptance of a court ruling have been clarified.
Governor Fubara has stated that such claims are misleading and do not reflect the true nature of the decision.
However, the Governor has confirmed that such claims are misleading and do not reflect the true nature of the decision.
According to an official statement released by the office of the Governor, the appeal was withdrawn as a procedural decision based on legal and administrative considerations.
The move was not an admission of defeat but rather a recognition that the appeal had been overtaken by events.
With the legal dispute linked to past budgetary matters, and Rivers State now operating under a new fiscal framework in 2025, pursuing the case was deemed unnecessary.
The notice highlights that the withdrawal aligns with Order 11, Rule 14 of the Supreme Court Rules, which permits discontinuation of cases that have lost their relevance due to changing circumstances. “This is not about conceding anything. The legal team made a practical decision based on the fact that the issues in contention are no longer applicable to the current governance structure in Rivers State,” the notice read.
Despite this clarification, some political actors and commentators have attempted to spin the withdrawal as a sign of weakness. However, government officials have dismissed such interpretations as misleading and politically motivated.
A senior official in the state government, who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged the public to focus on the ongoing development strides under Governor Fubara rather than on legal technicalities that no longer bear significance. “The governor is focused on delivering good governance. The opposition should focus on facts rather than twisting legal decisions to fit a false narrative,” the official stated.
Governor Fubara remains committed to his administration’s development agenda, with key projects in infrastructure, education, and economic growth already making significant impacts across the state. Observers have pointed to his leadership as a driving force behind Rivers State’s stability and progress, despite political distractions.
