From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has confirmed the filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on Wednesday, in Port Harcourt.
Oko-Jumbo clarified that the action was necessitated by the fact that the Assembly “strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024”.
The speaker made the clarification when he addressed lawmakers during plenary at the temporary facility used for legislative businesses in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Oko-Jumbo declared that he remains the authentic Speaker because there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State.
The speaker reiterated that the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers remain vacant as declared by the then speaker, Edison Ehie, on December 13, 2023, following their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.
He said: “There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly, with me as the Speaker, is the only House of Assembly in Rivers State.
“As the whole world knows, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.
“On the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA vacant. That declaration by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria.”
Oko-Jumbo explained that the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly secured restraining order against Martin Ameawhule and the 24 others when they continued to parade as members of the RSHA despite their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC and their seats declared vacant.
Oko-Jumbo emphasised: “We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine Suit No: PHC/1512/CS/2024.
“Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th Day of July, 2024.”