Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has admitted to spending his state’s money illegally by withdrawing his appeal from the Supreme Court.

The appeal, No. SC/CV/1071/2024, was filed against the Appeal Court judgment declaring the 2024 budget of the state illegal.

This followed the governor’s presentation of the budget before three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

According to Olayinka, after the governor withdrew his appeal, the apex court ordered him to present the budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.

He said the Appeal Court had upheld the judgment of Justice J. K. Omotosho in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/1613/2023, wherein the court ruled that Fubara should re-present the 2024 budget to the House of Assembly led by Amaewhule.

“By this withdrawal, Governor Fubara has accepted the lower and appellate courts’ judgments, declaring the presentation of the Rivers State budget to three members of the State House of Assembly as illegal,” he said on X.

Reacting, one Dike Vincent Amadi Esq., with the handle @dykamadi, questioned Olayinka’s comprehension of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Monday after Fubara withdrew his appeal.

He said, “Did you read the process at all? What will be the essence of an appeal that has been overtaken by events? We are talking about the 2025 budget now.”

In response, Olayinka said, “With the withdrawal, it stands that he spent Rivers State money illegally.”