By Newsmata
Setting the records straight amidst confusion over Monday’s Supreme Court judgement in respect of the protracted Rivers State political crisis, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has weighed in, debunking claims circulating in the media that the apex court’s judgement was in favour of the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the immediate past governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
A press release on Monday e-signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described such reports as deliberate misinformation aimed at misleading the public and distorting the legal proceedings surrounding the case.
The group clarified that the Supreme Court did not issue any judgement in favour of the defected lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule, but merely struck out the appeal filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara regarding the 2024 budget after his legal team voluntarily withdrew it.
HURIWA described the move as a procedural decision, not a loss, as the matter had already been overtaken by events.
This view was corroborated by Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, counsel to Governor Fubara. Falana told journalists outside the courtroom, “we withdrew the appeal on the ground that it had been overtaken by events contrary to the misinformation that has been created in the minds of Nigerians”.
Falana also explained that “with respect to the legislators, it was after the judgement of the High Court delivered by Justice Omotosho and the court of appeal that they defected. So, the question of their defection is now pending before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt”.
HURIWA said in dismissing the matter, “The Supreme Court only acted in line with the governor’s decision to discontinue his appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling on the 2024 budget. The 2024 budget has already been spent and executed, and governance has moved on to discussions on the 2025 budget. It is, therefore, unnecessary to continue litigating an issue that is no longer relevant to ongoing governance in Rivers State”.
HURIWA condemned the attempt by pro-Wike lawmakers and their allies to twist the court’s decision into a supposed “victory,” arguing that withdrawing a case from the court does not amount to an admission of wrongdoing.
“It is the worst kind of intellectual dishonesty for anyone to misinterpret Governor Fubara’s voluntary withdrawal of his appeal as an admission of guilt. This is purely a media propaganda strategy being championed by politicians who are desperate to remain relevant after defecting from the party under which they were elected,” the rights group said.
Onwubiko further explained that in legal practice, a litigant or appellant reserves the right to withdraw a case at any stage of the proceedings, even on the day of judgement. This principle has been upheld in several cases, including Ene v. Asogwa (2016) LPELR-40027(SC), where the Supreme Court reaffirmed that an appellant has an absolute right to discontinue a case at any point before judgment is delivered.
HURIWA insisted that no court ruling has legitimised the claim of the pro-Wike lawmakers to be the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, stressing that the entire narrative being pushed in the media is based on political propaganda rather than legal facts.
“The truth remains that no court, including the Supreme Court, has ruled in favour of the defected lawmakers. Their claims are baseless and should be disregarded. What happened at the Supreme Court was simply the withdrawal of a case that had become moot. It was not a ruling on the legitimacy of any faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the group explained.
HURIWA also took a swipe at the FCT Minister’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, for allegedly fueling the misinformation campaign. The organisation said it was irresponsible for any public official to deliberately distort facts in a bid to manipulate public perception.
“It is unfortunate that individuals who should know better are misleading the public with false narratives. The Rivers political crisis should not be allowed to be driven by propaganda and deception. Nigerians deserve the truth, not media manipulation,” HURIWA added.
The rights group called on the media to uphold journalistic integrity by verifying legal facts before reporting politically sensitive issues. It also urged Governor Fubara to remain focused on delivering good governance to the people of Rivers State rather than being distracted by political scheming.
“This is a crucial moment for Rivers State, and the governor must stay committed to his mandate. The people of Rivers State deserve leadership that prioritises development, peace, and stability over political distractions. We commend Governor Fubara for taking the high road and urge him to continue leading with integrity,” HURIWA stated.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerians are not misled by political actors who seek to distort the truth for personal or partisan gain.
“As a human rights and governance accountability group, HURIWA will continue to monitor events and provide fact-based interventions to counter disinformation and propaganda. The people of Rivers State should not be deceived by those whose only agenda is to create chaos for political advantage,” the group concluded.