The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interlocutory injunction, barring Speaker Martin Amaewhule and associated lawmakers from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
Justice C.N. Wali’s court issued the order in response to a lawsuit filed by lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminilayi Fubara, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, and two others, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
According to the court document sighted by PUNCH Online, the lawsuit named 25 lawmakers as defendants (1st to 25th) and additionally listed the Rivers State Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge as defendants (26th to 28th) in the legal action.
Previously, on May 10th, the court had issued a similar order, based on an ex parte motion, prohibiting the Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge from having any dealings with the lawmakers in question.
Granting the interlocutory injunction, the court said, “An order of interlocutory injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of the 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 at 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 substantive suit
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or however 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 substantive suit.”
That case was adjourned to July 1 2024 for mention.
In December 2023, 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress amidst the political crisis between Wike and Fubara.
Amaewhule and the defecting lawmakers, led by him, attributed their decision to leave the PDP and join the APC to the internal conflicts and divisions within the party.
The question of whether they will retain their seats in the house has sparked intense debate, with critics arguing that the constitution dictates they should vacate their positions.