Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the State Assembly is appealing the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on the jurisdiction of Rivers State High Court to hear the matter on suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024,.
Journalist101 recalls that the Court of Appeal in a ruling by a three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada upheld the appeal filed by a factional speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule and 24 others against the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others.
“Only the Federal High Court and no other court has the jurisdiction to determine cases of tenures and vacancies of the House of Assembly, Governors and President and not the State High Courts (Rivers State High Inclusive).
“From the foregoing, it is of the view of the learned judges that there was no contention on the speakership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewule from the records, and therefore, remains the speaker,” Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada held.
However, Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo speaking in their sitting on Friday, described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice, adding that the House has directed its legal team to urgently proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling by the Appeal Court.
He averred that contrary to speculations the Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule & 24 others did not defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress neither did the Appeal Court also declare them as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Speaker emphasised that there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or in any State in Nigeria, adding that Amaewhule and his team in spite of all their pretences are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the earlier declaration by the Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison which has not been vacated by any Court of competent jurisdiction.
“Once again, we, the legitimate Members of the RSHA hereby call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to promptly conduct a Bye Election to fill the vacant seats in the RSHA.”
“We strongly urge the general public to ignore Martin Amaewhule & 24 others in their pretence that they are members of the RSHA”
Two bills, the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill 2024 and Rivers State Emergency Management Bill 2024 passed the first reading of the State House of Assembly.
