“On the 11th day of December, 2023, while Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 was pending at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, and automatically lost their seats as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

“In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023”,  he went on, “the defection of Martin Amaewhule and 26 others was not an issue. Thus, it was not a question for determination. It was also not an issue for determination in the resultant appeals.”

He accused the embattled lawmakers of unfair practices and withholding vital information.

“Furthermore, before judgment was delivered in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others did not inform the court that they had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress”, he disclosed.

According to him, “Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, amongst others, were principally about the Appropriation Law 2024, (a.k.a 2024 budget).”

How did a matter which had everything to do with the 2024 Appropriation Act and nothing to do with the status of Amaewhule and 26 others result in an acclaimed endorsement of their status by the Supreme Court?

This is the question most rational minds are asking as more information is shed on the ruling. Who is trying to hpodwonk the public?

Iboroma urged members of the public “to ignore the false narrative and (the) propaganda being spread by Martin Chike Amaewhule and his lawyers on what transpired in the Supreme Court.”

He stated that the Government would have ignored the false narrative being spread by Amaewhule, his committee of friends and their lawyers, but had to put the record straight so as to correct the wrong impression and negative propaganda deliberately being fed to unsuspecting members of the public on the matter and the actions of the Apex Court.

“We are in the year 2025 with a 2025 Appropriation Bill already passed and signed into law and in operation” the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice told journalists.

“The Appropriation Law 2024 is now totally spent and cannot be brought back into operation. The monies in the Appropriation Law 2024, having been spent, cannot be recalled and spent again.

“The Appropriation Law 2024 being spent by reason of its expiration, SC/CV/1701/2024 became merely academic and of no utilitarian value”, Iboroma explained.

“The appellant, in keeping with the time-honoured practice of not wasting precious judicial time”, the Justice Commissioner revealed, “filed a notice of withdrawal of his appeal and freely urged the Honourable Court to dismiss his appeal.

“Accordingly, the Honourable Court granted the prayer sought and dismissed the appeal. This is all that transpired.”