The Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday resumed plenary amid reports that lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, blocked Governor Siminalayi Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget.

A video seen by an online medium showed the lawmakers already seated inside the chamber while Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other officials carrying the mace made their way into the hall.

The development follows an earlier dramatic standoff at the Assembly complex, where Fubara accused the legislators of locking the gates to prevent him from presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

SaharaReporters had reported that the governor, who arrived at the Assembly complex early in the morning, expressed frustration over the situation.

He stated that he had made multiple attempts to reach Speaker Amaewhule and other lawmakers before his arrival.

“I have made several attempts—by phone calls and through official letters—to reach the speaker and other members. But it is unfortunate that the gate is completely sealed, and there is no sign that anything is going to happen today,” Fubara had said.

He added that the budget presentation was crucial for the state’s development, warning that failure to pass the appropriation bill would disrupt governance and slow ongoing projects.

A video of the incident, shared by a Facebook user, Prince Yemi Itodo, showed the Assembly complex under lock and key, with security operatives reportedly ordered to vacate the premises.

“The implication is that the state will be run without a budget, which will slow development and lead to financial irregularities,” he wrote.

The blockade is the latest escalation in the ongoing political battle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, whose loyalists dominate the Assembly.

The crisis has also drawn the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who recently urged both sides to implement a Supreme Court-backed political agreement aimed at resolving the dispute.

Despite Tinubu’s intervention and Fubara’s call for dialogue, Wednesday’s sitting suggests the battle for control of the Rivers State government is far from over.

The High Court of Justice of Adamawa State, sitting in the Yola Judicial Division, has issued a significant court order directing the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to arrest and produce Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, before the court.

The order, issued on May 15, 2024, by Hon. Justice Benjamin L. Manji, stems from an ex parte application filed by the State in the ongoing case numbered HC/ADSY/9C/2024.

The legal proceedings against Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari began following a complaint lodged by the State on February 20, 2024. The case gained prominence due to allegations surrounding Ari’s conduct during the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State.

Ari was directed by the court to appear on May 3, 2024, but he reportedly left the courtroom and did not return

A sworn affidavit deposed by Ishaq Abdullahi Jada, the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Yola, detailed the circumstances leading to the court’s intervention.

The affidavit, supported by a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit and an exhibit marked “A,” highlighted Ari’s alleged failure to appear before the court despite being summoned.

According to the affidavit, Ari was directed by the court to appear on May 3, 2024, but he reportedly left the courtroom and did not return. Subsequent efforts to locate him proved futile, with the deponent asserting that Ari’s actions constituted a deliberate attempt to evade justice.

The application, moved by counsel L.D. Nzadon Esq., urged the court to grant a warrant for Ari’s arrest, emphasizing the necessity of his presence to stand trial for the charges preferred against him.

Presiding over the matter on May 15, 2024, Hon. Justice Benjamin L. Manji carefully considered the ex parte application and the supporting affidavit. Convinced of the application’s merit and the need for a favorable exercise of judicial discretion, the judge granted the prayers as requested.

The court issued the following orders:

A warrant of arrest was issued against the Defendant, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

The Inspector General of Police was directed to immediately effect the arrest and produce Ari before the Honourable Court on the next adjourned date.

The matter was adjourned to May 29, 2024, for arraignment.

The order was issued under the hand of the Hon. Judge and the seal of the court, with a certified true copy signed by Fadimatu Muhammad, the Principal Registrar.

In a related development, on February 28, 2025, the court revisited the case, granting leave for the service of Form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) on the Inspector General of Police via substituted means.

This notice, to be published in two national dailies—Daily Trust and Vanguard Newspapers—warns that failure to obey the court’s directions will result in contempt, potentially leading to imprisonment. The return date for this order is set for March 27, 2025.

The issuance of the Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order against Ari, pursuant to Order IX Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act

Additionally, an earlier application dated January 23, 2025, from Messrs Nzadon, Laori & Associates, counsel to the prosecution, formally requested the issuance of the Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order against Ari, pursuant to Order IX Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.

The court’s directive underscores the judiciary’s resolve to ensure that individuals, regardless of their status, are held accountable under the law. Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari’s alleged evasion has sparked widespread discussion, with many viewing the case as a test of the rule of law in Nigeria.

The involvement of the Inspector General of Police on contempt proceedings highlights the seriousness with which the matter is being treated, as law enforcement agencies are now tasked with locating and apprehending the former REC.

As the adjourned date of March 27th 2025 approaches—pending further updates—the public awaits the outcome of this high-profile case.

The court’s latest order, effective as of February 28, 2025, further intensifies the pressure on the police to comply, with potential legal consequences looming if the directive is not adhered to.

For now, all eyes are on the Inspector General of Police to fulfill the court’s mandate and bring Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari before the High Court of Adamawa State to answer to the charges against him.

A Nigerian woman falsely declared dead has appeared in court via videolink from Nigeria to stop a convicted fraudster from seizing her £350,000 London home.

June Ashimola, 55, was officially recorded as having died in February 2019, sparking a long-running legal battle over her estate.

However, she stunned the High Court by appearing before Deputy Master John Linwood to prove she was very much alive.

The court heard that Power of Attorney over her estate had been fraudulently granted to associates of Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster.

In 2022, control of the estate was transferred to a Ms. Ruth Samuel on behalf of one “Mr. Bakare Lasisi,” who claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993.

However, the judge ruled that Lasisi did not even exist and that Ashimola had been the victim of an elaborate scam.

Ashimola, who left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned, told the court that claims of her death were fabricated.

A false death certificate had been produced, and there were even allegations that a woman had been “masquerading” as her.

“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” Deputy Master Linwood remarked.
He ruled in Ashimola’s favor, concluding that Ashikodi had orchestrated the fraud and attempted to mislead the court.

Despite visa issues preventing her from attending in person, the judge accepted Ashimola’s identity, confirming her with passport photos.

The ruling effectively revokes the fraudulent claim over her London home, restoring her rightful ownership.

According to the Daily Mail, one of the most startling revelations in the case was that Ms. Ashimola’s supposed husband, Mr. Lasisi, did not actually exist—despite multiple emails allegedly sent by him.

“I find that Ms. Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained, produced, or fabricated,” the judge stated.
He further ruled that her alleged death was part of Mr. Tony Ashikodi’s scheme to seize control of the property from her.
“The person who appeared before me and identified herself as Ms. Ashimola bore a strong physical resemblance to the photographs in her passports,” he noted.
The judge also determined that Ms. Ashimola was never married to Mr. Lasisi and that the marriage certificate was a fraudulent or fabricated document.
“I do not accept that Mr. Lasisi exists—or, if he does, that he was aware his identity was being used. I also do not accept that the emails purportedly from him were actually sent by him,” he stated.
He found that the probate power of attorney, supposedly issued by Mr. Lasisi and Ms. Samuel, was fraudulent.
“The death certificate was not proven to the required standard, as only a copy was presented with no known provenance. There was no evidence before me that it was a genuine document representing a real event. I find it was forged and/or fraudulently produced. Those who relied on it—Mr. Tony Ashikodi and Ms. Samuel—were either directly involved in its creation or knew it was false,” he concluded.
As a result of these findings, Deputy Master Linwood revoked the grant related to the power of attorney.

The court also heard that the legal battle had already resulted in “disproportionate” costs exceeding £150,000—an amount that might surpass the property’s equity.