The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dealt a major blow to the pro-Wike lawmakers in the state, granting an interim injunction that restrains Martin Amaewhule and 24 other members from parading themselves as legislators.
The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday, prohibits them from convening or participating in any official meetings at the Assembly premises.
The court’s directive stems from an Exparte order filed by Pro-Siminialayi Fubara Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo, and three others, against the Pro-Wike lawmakers. The interim injunction declares the seats of the 1st to 25th defendants vacant pending further legal proceedings.
In addition, the court issued a restraining order, prohibiting Governor Siminialayi Fubara and the Chief Judge, who are 26th and 28th defendants in the suit, from engaging with Amaewhule and his 25 loyalists. This action is due to the defendants’ defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progress Congress (APC) on December 13, 2023.
The court also directed Amaewhule and the others to hand over all official documents within seven days. The case is adjourned until May 29 for a motion on notice.
Rivers State House of Assembly has been embroiled in crisis since last year, with the House divided into two factions – one loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and the other to Governor Fubara. In December, the crisis took an interesting turn when 27 members led by Amaewhule defected from the PDP to the APC.
However, things took another twist on Wednesday when the members loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara elected Victor Oko-Jumbo as their new Speaker. Oko-Jumbo, in his acceptance speech, thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker, sequel to the resignation of the former Speaker, Edison Ehie. He called on the Executive and the Judiciary, as well as the public, to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the Amaewhule-led Assembly, describing it as an exercise in futility.