A high court sitting in Port Harcourt, has ordered the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The court presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali in an Order of interim injunction, issued today, 10th May, 2024 also retrained Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers from “meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to carry out or purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as their legislative seats have been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
In the suit filed by the Factional Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo and Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari listed all the lawmakers loyal to Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Attorney General of Rivers State as defendants.
The court after hearing Sammie A. Somiari, SAN with B.N. Owunabo, Esq., K. O. Ogunjabi, Esq., B. S. Orupabo, Esq., O. J. Ifejika, Esq. and T. Aprioku, Esq. for the Claimants/Applicants ordered as follows:
“An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1 to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of 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 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 Motion on Notice.
“An Order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1 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 13 December, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“It is further Ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice and the writ and other processes in this case be served on the 1 to 25th Defendants/Respondents within seven (7) days from date by substituted means to wit: by pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”
The case was further adjourned to the 29th May, 2024 for Motion on Notice.
