For the second time in less than three weeks, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has stopped 25 lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
The trial high court judge, Justice C.N. Wali gave the interlocutory order in a suit filed by the pro-Governor Siminilayi Fubara lawmakers led by their Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
The suit listed 25 lawmakers, Rivers Governor, the Attorney-General and the Chief Judge of the state as defendants in the case.
BAR & BENCH WATCH reports that the high court had May 10, 2024 granted similar order exparte, stopping the governor, the attorney-general and the Chief Judge from interacting with the affected 25 lawmakers.
In the ruling of the court, the court specifically held: “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”.
The court has however adjourned the case till July 1, 2024 for mention.
There have been a series of controversies surrounding the membership of the 25 lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, had also said that the 25 lawmakers must obey the court order that restrained them from parading themselves as lawmakers.
He said the lawmakers can only persuade the court to review the case or go back to the people and let the people renew their mandate.
Falana said that the 25 lawmakers who had threatened to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, were either not properly guided or advised.
