The group categorically described these reports as deliberate misinformation aimed at misleading the public and distorting the facts surrounding the legal proceedings.
HURIWA clarified that the
Supreme Court did not issue any judgment validating the faction led by Martin Amaewhule, but instead, the Court merely struck out the appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara concerning the 2024 state budget.
The decision to withdraw the case was made by Fubara’s legal team voluntarily, and the group emphasized that this was a procedural action rather than a legal defeat.
The matter, according to
HURIWA, had already become moot due to the passage of time and the execution of the 2024 budget, making it unnecessary to continue legal proceedings over a matter that no longer held relevance to ongoing governance.
“The Supreme Court’s action was in line with Governor Fubara’s choice to discontinue his appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling on the 2024 budget. The 2024 budget has already been fully implemented, and governance has now shifted focus to the discussions surrounding the 2025 budget. Continuing litigation on a matter that is no longer pertinent is both unnecessary and a waste of judicial resources,” HURIWA stated.
The rights group strongly condemned the effort by pro-Wike lawmakers and their allies to misrepresent the court’s decision as a supposed “victory” for their faction.
HURIWA argued that the voluntary withdrawal of the case should not be misconstrued as an admission of any wrongdoing.
“It is the height of intellectual dishonesty for anyone to spin Governor Fubara’s voluntary decision to withdraw the case as a sign of guilt. This is a calculated media strategy designed to manipulate public opinion and mislead the electorate,” the group asserted.
Furthermore, HURIWA reminded the public that it is a well-established principle of law that a litigant or appellant has the absolute right to withdraw a case at any stage of the proceedings, even on the eve of judgment.
The rights group referenced the Supreme Court’s affirmation of this right in the case of Ene v. Asogwa (2016) LPELR-40027(SC), reinforcing the legitimacy of the Governor’s decision to withdraw the appeal.
HURIWA further emphasized that no court has validated the claims of the defected lawmakers as the legitimate faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The narrative being pushed in the media is pure political propaganda, not a legal ruling. The truth remains that no court, including the Supreme Court, has ruled in favor of the defected lawmakers. The matter at hand was only about the governor’s withdrawal of an irrelevant case, not a judgment on the legitimacy of any faction within the Rivers State Assembly,” the group clarified.
The organization also took aim at Lere Olayinka, the spokesperson for the FCT Minister, for allegedly fueling the misinformation campaign. HURIWA condemned the deliberate distortion of facts, calling it an irresponsible and dangerous attempt to manipulate public perception.
“It is deeply troubling that public officials who should be stewards of truth are instead perpetuating falsehoods to suit their political agenda. The crisis in Rivers State should not be turned into a theater of deceit,” HURIWA added.
The rights group called on the media to adhere to journalistic integrity and to ensure that legal facts are verified before reporting on politically sensitive matters.
They also urged Governor Fubara to remain focused on his governance duties and avoid being distracted by political schemes and misinformation.
“As the Governor of Rivers State, it is crucial that Governor Fubara remains committed to the real work of governance—delivering development, peace, and stability to the people of Rivers. The people of the state deserve leadership that prioritizes their welfare, not leadership driven by partisan distractions,” HURIWA stated.
In its closing remarks, the organization reiterated its commitment to fighting misinformation and promoting accountability in Nigerian governance. HURIWA promised to continue monitoring political events, providing fact-based interventions to counter the disinformation campaigns of those who seek to manipulate the truth for personal or partisan gain.
“As a human rights and governance accountability group, HURIWA will continue to stand firm against political actors who seek to deceive the public. The people of Rivers State deserve the truth, and we will not allow them to be misled by those whose only agenda is political chaos and manipulation,” the group concluded.
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