By Ken Afor
On Tuesday, the lawmakers of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened for their session, choosing to hold their sitting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, instead of the usual complex.
The lawmakers chose to reconvene at the Government House because of the ongoing demolition of the Assembly Complex on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, during the demolition, the lawmakers, headed by the Right Honourable Edison Ehie, were reportedly observed entering the Government House.
According to reports, the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, instructed the house to move its sessions to a new location, which they promptly did.
During their inaugural meeting, the lawmakers unanimously elected Hon. Adolphus T. Orubienimigha as the assembly’s new majority leader.
Also, the State House of Assembly, under the leadership of the duly recognized Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ehie, along with other members, are currently convening and discussing bills that serve the best interests of the people of Rivers.
On Tuesday, TheNewDiplomat reported that the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had issued an order, permitting Ehie to continue serving as the Speaker of the Assembly until the court resolves the ongoing case.
Justice M.W. Danagogo issued the directive when delivering a verdict on an expert motion submitted by the Rivers State House of Assembly. The suit identifies Ehie, Martin Amaewhule, and Dumle Maol as the first and second defendants, respectively.
Ehie’s plea to the court entails a request for an official directive, compelling Amaewhule and his associates to refrain from entering the state assembly complex until the damaged sacred chamber is completely fixed by the government.
Additionally, Ehie seeks a court order granting him the rightful position of the speaker of the state assembly until the case is resolved. He fervently prayed that Amaewhule be prohibited from assuming the role of the House Speaker.
Nevertheless, the court issued an interim order that approved the applicant’s requests, compelling Amaewhule and others to cease utilizing the Assembly premises in compliance with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s directive that the facility was undergoing renovation.
Notably, the court included a provision stipulating that Ehie would be liable to pay N50 million in damages if the application presented before the court was deemed frivolous.
The claimants were further instructed by the court to deliver the interim order, motion on notice already submitted, originating summon, and other relevant documents to the defendants on or before December 13, 2023.
Additionally, the court allowed the claimants to serve all the necessary documents through alternative methods, such as publishing them in two national newspapers or posting them at a noticeable location in the defendants’ last known address. The hearing for the motion on notice was adjourned until December 21.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Justice Danagogo to overturn the order he issued, which allowed Ehie and his supporters to enter the House of Assembly complex.
According to the APC, the ex parte order granted by the state High Court is a display of impunity, as it acknowledges Ehie as the legitimate speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
During a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the APC in the state, criticized the order, referring to it as a blatant violation of court procedures.
According to him, “We use this medium to send notice in advance to the learned judge that the APC leaders will not sit and watch the ‘Jankara’ exparte order in clear violation of principles of law in fragrance disobedience to the NJC. We shall be left with no option to petition the NJC if the judge does not reverse himself immediately.”
