A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers from parading and holding themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The presiding judge, Justice C.N. Wali, gave the 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 the 25 lawmakers as 1st to 25th defendants and Rivers Governor , the state’s Attorney-General and the Chief Judge of the state as 26th to 28th defendants.
Justice Wali, also issued an interlocutory injunction against Governor Fubara, the Attorney General of Rivers State, and the state’s Chief Judge.
The Governor, the Attorney General and the Chief Judge are restrained from dealing with, interfacing, or accepting any resolution, bill, or other actions from Speaker Amaewhule and his 24 other sacked colleagues.
Justice Wali, who was ruling on a suit filed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Adolphus-Timothy as claimants, restrained Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers from sitting in the auditorium of the House of Assembly quarters, or at any other place to carry out any legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court also declared Speaker Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers’ seats vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The judge in his ruling 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”.
The court fixed the matter to July 1, 2024 for mention.
