Rivers court bars Amaewhule, 24 others from parading as lawmakers
By Jeffrey Agbo
A High Court in Rivers State has stopped Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the House of Assembly.
Justice C.N. Wali issued the interlocutory injunction following a suit filed by lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminilayi Fubara, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, and two others, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
Listed as defendants in the suit are 25 lawmakers, Fubara, chief judge, and attorney-general of Rivers State, according to court documents seen on Thursday.
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.
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“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.”
The case was adjourned to July 1, 2024 for mention.
The court issued a similar order on May 10 based on an ex parte motion, prohibiting Fubara, attorney-general, and chief judge from having any dealings with the lawmakers in question.
The 25 Rivers lawmakers named as defendants in the suit are loyal to former governor and now FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, who is at loggerheads with Fubara.