The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has extended an interim order granted on July 8, prohibiting the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from interacting with the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
In a preemptive move to thwart any impeachment attempts by the Amaewhule-led House, Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara secured the interim order in a lawsuit he filed alongside the Attorney-General of Rivers State against Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers.
The suit also named lawmakers led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as additional defendants.
The court, presided over by Justice Jumbo Stephens, instructed the parties involved in the July 8 order to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The court previously said: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st to 27 defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other documents or communication from the 1st to 27 defend pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
“The parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem in this suit as of 5th July 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction”.
The court also ordered substituted service of the originating and other processes in the suit on the 1st to 30th defendants by pasting the same at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters located along the Aba Road.
But Justice Stephen renewed the order on July 19 citing many applications particularly the issue of legal representation of the clerk and the PDP.
The judge in a copy of the renewed order said the court also took into consideration the fact that Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers had filed a counter affidavit in opposition to the claimants’ motion on notice for interlocutory injunction upon service of same on them.
The judge said: “I hereby exercise my discretion in extending the lifespan of the interim orders made on July 8, 2024.
“The extension of the lifespan of the interim orders is in the interest of justice and for the protection of the dignity of the court. Accordingly, the lifespan of the interim orders is hereby extended pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction and other applications.”
The judge adjourned the case to October 14th for a hearing on the issue of legal representation of the 32nd and 33rd defendants and other applications.
