The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interlocutory injunction preventing Speaker Martin Amaewhule and associated lawmakers from continuing their roles and presenting themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
Justice C.N. Wali issued the order following a lawsuit filed by lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminilayi Fubara.
This group, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and supported by Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy, sought legal action against Amaewhule and 24 others.
According to court documents obtained by PUNCH Online, the lawsuit names 25 lawmakers as defendants (1st to 25th) and includes the Rivers State Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge as additional defendants (26th to 28th).
Previously, on May 10th, the court had issued a similar ex parte order, restricting the Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge from interacting with the disputed lawmakers.
In the latest ruling, the court stated, “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.”
The court further ordered, “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 is scheduled to be mentioned on July 1, 2024.
In December 2023, a political crisis prompted 27 lawmakers loyal to former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to defect to the All Progressives Congress. Led by Amaewhule, they cited internal conflicts within the PDP as the reason for their defection.
This move has triggered a heated debate on whether they should retain their seats, with critics arguing that the constitution mandates they vacate their positions.
