Court orders Rivers Assembly lawmakers to suspend sittings, maintain status quo

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday ordered the two factions in the Rivers House of Assembly to suspend further sittings and maintain status quo, pending the dispensation of the matter.

A factional speaker of the assembly, Edison Ehie in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, approached the court, presided over by Justice Phoebe Ayua.

He prayed to the court to stop Martins Amaewhule, the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the other lawmakers from presiding over the activities of the legislative arm of the state.

In the suit, the plaintiffs are the River State House of Assembly as first and Ehie (Speaker, River State House of Assembly) as second.

The defendants are the factional speaker of the assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Dumle Moal, a former deputy speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, Director, Department of State Security Services, Rivers State, and Commissioner of Police.

In her ruling, Justice Ayua ordered all the parties to respect the court order, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The order directed the plaintiffs and applicants to put the respondents on notice forthwith.

“That an order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this court—sub judice—pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

In the suit, the plaintiffs sought, among others, a declaration that the former speaker and his deputy, having been removed and suspended from the house, are not entitled to participate, disturb, interfere, or obstruct the performance of the legislative proceedings and duties of the new speaker.

This, they said, was in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining the former speaker and the deputy from interfering with or participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.

The court was adjourned until Nov. 27 for a hearing.

The assembly broke into two factions when Amaewhule and some members attempted to impeach Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of the state.