Rivers crisis: Pro-Fubara lawmakers Oko-Jumbo and others are headed to the Supreme Court
The Court of Appeal’s ruling, which overturned the State High Court’s ruling granting them the authority to serve as Speaker and members of the state legislature, has been appealed by Hon.
Victor Oko-Jumbo and other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are loyal to the state’s governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
Jumbo stated that they had already appeared at the Supreme Court to contest the decision made by the Appeal Court, which determined that
State High Court Justice Charles Wali lacked the authority to consider the state legislature’s case.
In a ruling on Thursday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the High Court’s injunction prohibiting Amaewhule and others from parading as lawmakers and speakers was invalid in the case CA/PH/198/2024.
Jumbo explained this to legislators during their plenary session on Friday at the makeshift building used for legislative proceedings in Port Harcourt.
They made it clear that the action was required because they firmly feel that the Court of Appeal erred in holding that the State High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and decide Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024.
Reiterating that the seats of Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former MPs were vacant as proclaimed by the then-speaker,
Hon. Edison Ehie, on December 13, 2023, Jumbo declared that he remained the legitimate speaker because the state could not have two Houses of Assembly.
He stated that the reality came about as a result of their switch on December 11, 2023, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in any state in Nigeria, including Rivers State,” he declared. The only house of assembly in Rivers State is this one, of which I am the speaker.
“As everyone is aware, Martin Amaewhule and his twenty-four pals defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023.
“As Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie proclaimed the seats of Martin Amaewhule and
twenty-four other members of the RSHA vacant on December 13, 2023. No Nigerian court has ruled against the Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie’s declaration.
Jumbo insisted that despite their defection to the APC and the seats being declared vacant, Martin Ameawhule and the other 24 people were
subject to a restraining order obtained by the legal members of the Assembly when they proceeded to parade as RSHA members.
He declared: “The Court of Appeal permitted the appeal by Martin Ameawhule & 24 ORS on the ground that the Rivers State High Court
lacked jurisdiction to hear and consider the case yesterday, July 4, 2024, in its lead judgment.
As a result, the Court of Appeal dismissed the lawsuit PHC/1512/CS/2024 and did not do anything further. The Court of Appeal did not declare that
Martin Amaewhule and the 24 ORS had not switched parties to the APC from the PDP.
Additionally, the Court of Appeal did not declare that Martin Amaewhule and the 24 ORS are still RSHA members.
We firmly feel that the Rivers State High Court did not have the authority to hear and rule on SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024, as the Court of Appeal incorrectly stated.
In light of this, we have given our attorneys instructions, and they have appealed the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which was delivered on July 4, 2024, to the Nigerian Supreme Court.
Despite their false claims, Martin Amaewhule and 24 ORS are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and
they will stay such unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders them to change their status.
“Once more, we the lawful members of the RSHA HEREBY request that a bye-election be held as soon as possible to fill the open seats in the RSHA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
