FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has raised serious concerns regarding a recent judicial decision in Rivers State, particularly criticizing the ruling by Justice Sika Aprioku that allowed lawmakers supportive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to pass the state’s 2025 budget. Wike’s discontent with the judgment has sparked heated debate, as he questions the legitimacy of the ruling and the motivations behind it.
In a report by TVC, Wike’s criticism centers on the unusual nature of the ruling, which he believes paves the way for a minority group of lawmakers to control the state’s legislative process. He expressed his disbelief over the claim that only three individuals could pass a budget and create laws for the state, something he sees as a clear deviation from established legislative practices. For Wike, the judgment does not align with the norms of democratic governance and reflects a deeper issue within the state’s judicial processes.
According to the FCT Minister, the animosity behind the judge’s ruling stems from a personal conflict dating back to his time as governor. Wike claimed that the source of the tension was a decision he made to dismiss Justice Aprioku’s brother from his civil service position after a fatal building collapse under the brother’s supervision. Wike suggested that this event might have influenced the judge’s actions, positioning the ruling as a form of personal retaliation rather than a fair legal judgment.
Wike also questioned the legal validity of the decision, noting that the matter had already been addressed by a higher court. He pointed out that the Court of Appeal had previously ruled on the issue, with the case now under appeal to the Supreme Court. Given this ongoing legal process, Wike argued that it was inappropriate for a state High Court judge to make a final determination on the matter, especially when it was still in dispute at the national level.
Despite his criticism, Wike expressed confidence that the appeals process would eventually lead to a different outcome. He indicated that the matter would be resolved in a higher court and that the ruling would be overturned. For him, the current decision held little weight as it was not the final ruling in the case, and he made it clear that he would not let it affect his stance.
Wike concluded by reiterating his belief in the importance of the appeals process and urged the judge to proceed with his decision if he wished. However, he remained untroubled by the ruling, knowing that a higher court would ultimately have the final say. In his view, the legal battle was far from over, and the truth would eventually prevail.
He said, “But at the end of the day, everybody will see how it’s going to end. For me, go ahead and do whatever you want to do, but as far as you’re not the final Court that would determine everything, I have no problem.”
