Fubara Returns: 60 key moments that led to Emergency Rule in Rivers

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is set to return to office on Thursday, September 18, following the suspension of the six-month State of Emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu.

In March, the President suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and the State House of Assembly following a protracted political battle between the governor and his political godfather and predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

The crisis started shortly after Fubara assumed office as Governor of the oil-rich state in May 2023.

 

This piece provides a detailed record of 60 significant events that contributed to the crisis that ultimately led to the declaration of Emergency Rule in the state.

October 29, 2023 — A section of the Assembly was set ablaze by unknown persons.
October 30, 2023 — The Assembly, led by Martins Ameawhule, suspended four members. (Edison Ehie, Victor Oko Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and Adolphus Timothy). The Assembly stripped Edison Ehie of his position as Leader of the House, replacing him with Major Jack. That same day, the House also initiated the impeachment process by sending a Notice of Impeachment to Governor Fubara.

October 30, 2023 — Edison Ehie declared himself Speaker, backed by the 3 suspended members.

October 31, 2023 — Chijioke Ihunwo and other youths were arrested for invading Martins Ameawhule’s official residence.
November 1, 2023 — Justice O B Whyte of the Rivers state High Court gave an interim injunction restraining the Assembly from impeaching Fubara.

November 9, 2023 — The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Phoebe M Ayua refused an Application for a restraining order brought by Edison Ehie seeking to restrain Martins Ameawhule from operating.
November 30, 2023- Justice J K Omotosho of the Federal High Court gave the following order; a. An Order restraining the National Assembly from taking over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. b. An Order restraining the Rivers State Government from withholding or dealing with funds of the RSHA in any Manner. c. An Order restraining the Rivers State Governor through her agents from removing, appointing, transferring, or posting the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, or any staff of the RSHA. d. An Order restraining the Governor, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant General, etc, from withholding or interfering with the fund meant for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, members of the Assembly, Clerk, and the RSHA Staff. e. An Order granting the 26 majority members out of 31 members of the RSHA authority to continue sitting and carrying out their legislative functions in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. f. An order against demolition of the Assembly.

December 11, 2023 -Ameawhule and 27 others allegedly defected.

December 12, 2023 — Justice M W Danagogo of the Rivers State High Court gave an interim order for Edison Ehie to hold sittings without interference.

December 13, 2023- Sim Fubara demolished the Assembly. While Edison Ehie, on the strength of the Court order, declared vacant the seats of Ameawhule and Co., and Sim Fubara presented and signed the budget.
December 14, 2023- Commissioners resigned.
December 15, 2023- Edison Ehie wrote to the INEC declaring the seats of members who allegedly defected vacant.

December 18, 2023- The Federal High Court presided over by D U UKOROWO restrained INEC from conducting bye-elections for any Assembly seats in Rivers.

December 18, 2023- An 8-point Presidential Resolution was entered with Tinubu and signed by all parties.

December 20, 2023- The Impeachment Notice was withdrawn by the Assembly.
December 31, 2023- Edison resigned from the Assembly.

January 1, 2024- Fubara declared he is with the RED BIRO, and others have failed.
January 4, 2024 — Edison withdrew the contempt suit against Lawmakers in the State Assembly.

January 17, 2024- All nine commissioners who resigned were screened and confirmed by the Assembly.

January 22, 2024 — The Federal High Court presided over by Justice JK Omotosho gave judgment setting aside the budget purportedly passed by Edison Ehie in 2023 and signed by Sim Fubara.

January 26, 2024 -Assembly amended the Local Government Law and stripped the Governor of the power to Appoint Caretakers.

January 29, 2024 — Sim Fubara swore in Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff and other SAs without Assembly approval.

January 29, 2024 — Rivers Assembly forwarded a Resolution of the House to Gov. Sim Fubara notifying him of violation of extant laws and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

January 26, 2024 — Some re-sworn in Commissioners resigned.

April 2024- Sim Fubara withheld Local Government funds for 3 months.

May 6, 2024 — Fubara declared that Rivers State members of the Assembly do not exist. He made this declaration when Senator Seriake Dickson and Alfred Diette Spiff visited the Rivers State Government House.
May 8, 2004- Victor Oko Jumbo declared himself Speaker of the House of Assembly, supported by 2 other members, Sokari Goodboy and Adolphus Timothy.

May 10, 2024- Fubara ´relocated´ the Oko Jumbo Faction of the House of Assembly to Government House.

May 10, 2024- The Rivers State High Court presided over by CN Wali granted an interim Injunction against Amaewhule and co, allowing Oko Jumbo to operate.

May 13, 2024- Sim Fubara appointed Attorney General, screened by Oko Jumbo and 2 others.

May 15, 2024- Five more Commissioners resigned.

May 21, 2024 — The Rivers State High Court, presided over by Justice DG Kio, voided the amended RSIEC Local Government law.

May 21, 2024- Sim Fubara appointed Commissioners, Collins Onuwo and co.

June 10, 2024- The High Court of Rivers State, presided over by Justice Okogbule Gbasam, declared that the Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain defection matters and dismissed the case brought by Hyacinth Amadi and others against Martins Ameawhule and 26 other members of the House of Assembly.
June 14, 2024- The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada, asked that the status quo be maintained on Appeal by Martins Ameawhule against the order of Justice CN Wali of the Rivers State High Court.

June 19, 2024 — Sim Fubara swore in 23 Caretaker Committee Chairmen to the 23 Local Governments screened by Oko Jumbo and 2 others.

June 25, 2024 — Dynamite exploded near the Presidential Hotel along Port Harcourt- Aba road during a protest by a pro-Wike solidarity group.

July 4, 2024- The Court of Appeal, led by Jimi Olukayode Baba, reinstated Martins Ameawhule and twenty six other members, dismissing the interlocutory injunction of CN Wali of the Rivers State High Court.

July 8, 2024 — The Rivers State High Court, presided over by Justice Stephens Jumbo, issued an ex parte order barring the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from engaging with Martins Amaewhule and his colleagues.

July 8, 2024 — The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, upheld the Rivers State High Court decision that voided the Local Government Extension Law.

July 9, 2024 — The Martins Ameawhule-led Assembly gave Sim Fubara a 7-day Ultimatum to re-present the 2024 budget following the Court of Appeal Judgement.
July 15, 2024 — Rivers State House of Assembly, through a unanimous resolution, shut down expenditure of the State funds and notified Governor Sim Fubara via a letter.

July 19, 2024- The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, gave an interim order stopping INEC from releasing the Voters Register to RSIEC to conduct Local Government elections.

August 12, 2024- Fubara swore in more Commissioners, Ilamu Arugu and co.
September 4, 2024 — The Rivers State High Court, presided over by Justice I P C Igwe, ordered the RSIEC to conduct Local Government elections using 2023 Voters Register.

September 20, 2024 — The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, dismissed APP defection case against Martins Ameawhule and 26 others.

September 30, 2024 — The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Lifu, gave a judgment stopping the conduct of Local Government elections slated for October 5, 2024. Barred INEC from releasing voters register to RSIEC and barred the Police.
October 5, 2024 — RSIEC conducted the Local Government elections.

October 6, 2024- Sim Fubara inaugurated the Local Government elected Chairmen.
October 7, 2024- The Nigerian Police unsealed the 23 Local Government Secretariats after four months of barricade.
October 10, 2024 — The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, upheld the Justice JK Omotosho Judgement that nullified the 2024 budget and declared the Martins Ameawhule-led Assembly as the right House.
October 15, 2024- Rivers Assembly declared the seats of 4 members vacant for failing to attend the House plenaries.

October 30, 2024- The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdumalik, delivered a judgment freezing Rivers’ Account and Allocation due to lack of budget presentation or appropriation law.
December 13, 2024 — The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Hamman Akawu Barka, nullified Justice Joyce Abdumalik’s Judgement that froze the state account and stopped allocation.

February 10, 2025- The Supreme Court dismissed Gov Sim Fubaras’ Appeal against the Budget presentation.

February 28, 2025- The Supreme Court gave final decision on all the cases. The court recognised Rt Hon Martins Ameawhule as the Speaker, nullified all actions taken by Oko Jumbo and Co, upheld the freezing of the state Account and Federal Allocation, and nullified the Local Government elections.
March 11, 2025- Pandef met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

March 14, 2025- Notice of Impeachment was served to Sim Fubara

March 18, 2025 — President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

March 20, 2025 — The National Assembly voted in support of THE EMERGENCY RULE.