By Ken Afor
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an order prohibiting the Speaker of the state Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of the state and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT as well as 24 lawmakers from presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The order was given by Justice Charles N. Wali in a case with suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024, filed by Victor Oko Jumbo, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, along with Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy, members of the Assembly.
The lawsuit filed is against Martin Amaewhule and 24 other respondents, including the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara the State Attorney General, and the Chief Judge of the state.
After hearing the ex parte motion presented by Sammie A. Somiari, SAN, along with B.N. Owunabo, Esq., and other counsels representing the claimants/applicants, Justice Wali issued an order barring Amaewhule and the 24 other respondents from acting or presenting themselves as lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that in December 2023, Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the party under which they were originally elected, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Meanwhile, Wali did not only bar Amaewhule and the 24 others from presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly but also ordered the Rivers State government to cease dealing with these lawmakers, as their seats have remained vacant since their defection from the PDP, the party that initially produced them.
The order read: “An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“An order of interim injunction is, hereby, made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“It is further Ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice and the writ and other processes, in this case, be served on the 1st to 25th defendants/respondents within seven (7) days from date by substituted means to wit: by pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”
The court adjourned the Rivers lawmakers case till May 29 for Motion on Notice.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State House of Assembly has been in turmoil for over a year now, resulting in a split within the House. On one side are members loyal to Wike while on the other are those loyal to Governor Fubara.
Last December, the situation escalated when 27 members, led by Amaewhule, defected from the PDP to the APC.
Initially, Amaewhule led the faction supporting Governor Wike as Speaker, while the opposing faction, loyal to Fubara, was led by Edison Ehie, who was later appointed as the governor’s Chief of Staff.
However, recent developments on Wednesday saw the members aligned with Governor Fubara electing Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny constituency, as their Speaker, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
