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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interlocutory injunction preventing 25 members of the State House of Assembly from parading themselves as members of the House.
The injunction, granted by Justice Charles Wali in Suit No: PHC/1512/CS/2024, stems from a lawsuit filed by the faction of the House led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo. The suit seeks to stop the 25 lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule and loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, from claiming their legislative seats following their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 13, 2023.
The court order, which also restrains the Rivers State Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge from dealing with the defected lawmakers in their purported capacity as members of the House, states:
“An order of interlocutory injunction is granted preventing 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 whatever to purport to carry out 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.”
The order further prohibits the Governor, Attorney-General, and Chief Judge from “dealing with, interfacing, accepting my resolutions, bills and or howsoever interfacing with 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.”
This injunction effectively prevents the 25 lawmakers from participating in legislative activities and effectively declares their seats vacant until the substantive suit is heard and determined.
