New twist as Rivers court issues order against recognition of Amaewhule-led Assembly

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, issued an ex-parte interim order restraining the state Chief Justice and the Clerk of the state House of Representatives from recognizing the Martins Amaewhule-led state House of Representatives.

Justice Jumbo Stephen issued the order, which also prohibits them from dealing with Amaewhule and 26 others as members of the Assembly or acting on any resolution, articles of impeachment or communications from them.

The suit, identified as PHC/2177/CS/2024, was filed by the state Attorney General and Governor Siminialayi Fubara as plaintiff against Amaewhule and 26 others as the first group of defendants, and Victor Oko-Jumbo, the State Chief Justice, the Clerk of the State House of Representatives and the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} as the second group of defendants.

The court ordered all parties to maintain status quo ante litem effective July 5, 2024, until the petition for interlocutory injunction is heard and decided.

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According to the court order, “An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd defendants from transacting or dealing with the 1st to 27th defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Representatives and from receiving, forwarding or acting upon any resolution, article of impeachment or order of the defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion for notice of interlocutory injunction filed herein. That the parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain status quo ante litem in this suit on July 5, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for notice of interlocutory injunction filed herein.”

Further, the court ordered the substitution of service of the initial process and other processes in the suit on defendants 1 to 30 by serving the documents at Quarters, opposite the former NDDC head office, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The court postponed the hearing on the application for notification of the interim decision until July 15, 2024.

Meanwhile, lawmakers loyal to the Amaewhule faction, who are reportedly allied with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had earlier on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Fubara to present the 2024 budget.

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