A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has restrained Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 25 others from parading as Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly, pending the determination of the suit before it.
The presiding Judge, Justice Charles Wali, gave the order after the factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jaja, filed an order of Interlocutory Injunction, praying the court to stop Amaewhule’s faction from acting on such capacity.
The matter was registered in Suit No: PHC/1512/CS/2024.
Reacting on the matter, Justice Wali also ordered that the Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Rivers state government should restrain from accepting any resolutions, bills or interacting with Amaewhule and the 25 other estranged lawmakers.
“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the 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 whatsoever to purport to carry out the 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.
“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 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.”
Meanwhile, Justice Wali has adjourned the matter till 1 July 2024 for mention.