Highlight

FHC judgment on Rivers lawmakers: Pro-Fubara lawmakers head to Supreme Court

Oko-Jumbo reaffirmed his position as the legitimate Speaker, emphasizing that the existence of two parallel Houses of Assembly in Rivers State is untenable and that his leadership remains the authentic and recognized authority.

363

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a loyalist of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, has confirmed that an appeal has been filed at the Supreme Court, challenging the judgment delivered by the Appeal Court on Thursday in Port-Harcourt.

According to Oko-Jumbo, the appeal was necessary because the Assembly strongly disagrees with the Appeal Court’s ruling that the Rivers State High Court lacked jurisdiction in SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024 and believes the higher court erred in its decision.

Persecondnews recalls that the three-man Appeal Court, in a unanimous judgment on Thursday, July 4, held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo addressed lawmakers during a plenary session on Friday at a temporary facility in Port Harcourt, according to a press release from Dr. G.M. Gillis-West, Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Oko-Jumbo reaffirmed his position as the legitimate Speaker, emphasizing that the existence of two parallel Houses of Assembly in Rivers State is untenable and that his leadership remains the authentic and recognized authority.

He restated that the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, remain vacant, as declared by the then Speaker, Edison Ehie, on December 13, 2023, following their defection.

He said: “There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State, or indeed any state in Nigeria. This House of Assembly, with me as the Speaker, is the only House of Assembly in Rivers State.

“As the whole world knows, on the 11th day of December 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.

“On the 13th day of December 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA vacant. That declaration has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria.”

He said because they felt dissatisfied with the rulings of the Rivers State High Court in Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024, Amaewhule and 24 lawmakers had filed an Appeal No. CA/PH/198/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.

He stated: “Yesterday, the 4th of July, 2024, the Court of Appeal, in its lead Judgement, allowed the appeal by Martin Ameawhule & 24 ORS on the ground that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

“Accordingly, the Court of Appeal struck out Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024 and NOTHING MORE. The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS did not defect from the PDP to the APC.

“The Court of Appeal also did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 ORS are still members of the RSHA.”

He added: “We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024.

“Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers, and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th day of July, 2024.

“Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS, in spite of all their pretences, are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and they remain so until a court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise.

“Once again, we, the legitimate members of the RSHA, hereby call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seats in the RSHA.

“We strongly urge the general public to ignore Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS in their pretence that they are members of the RSHA.”

Leave a comment

Related Articles

N1.3trn fraud: EFCC arrests, grills ex-Delta Gov. Okowa

A former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has been apprehended by the...

Equatorial Guinea government official embroiled in sextape scandal

Mr. Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)...

CAF ruling against Libya: Nigerian govt. promises to protect its citizens in Libya

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to...

Polaris Bank wins “Best Mobile App” award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024

For its commitment to digital innovation and excellence, Polaris Bank has again...

Updated: After six years of injustice, Nigeria’s ex-Chief Justice, Onnoghen, finally gets justice

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of...

Flood sacks 4 Anambra council areas as Soludo activates 27 IDP camps

By Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka Floods have devastated four local government areas in...

Four-month salary: NASU, SSANU secure irrevocable commitment from FG, suspend strike

After a six-day strike, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff...

Three radio stations in Abia destroyed by mysterious fire

A mysterious fire has hit three radio stations in Abia in Abia...

Seven new ministers for inauguration on Monday, Nov. 4

President Bola Tinubu will preside over the oath-taking of seven new ministers...

Youth shot dead for playing football near VIP’s house

A 70-year-old man, Mr. Stephen Irobunda, has escaped a mob action in...

Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, director Dimeji Ajibola is dead

Dimeji Ajibola, the acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker behind the popular series Shanty Town,...

Just in: UK Conservative Party elects former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch as new leader

Former British Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the new leader...

Demolition of Abuja N200bln properties: Restrain Wike, Estate Developers Beg Pres. Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to intervene in the alleged demolition...

FirstBank’s retired CEO, Adeduntan, gets presidential commendation

Impressed with his exemplary career trajectory and transformative leadership, President Bola Tinubu...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

NAGAFF Taps NPA MD, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as Keynote Speaker for Silver Jubilee Anniversary

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has announced Dr....

It’s fake news: Fubara did not order shut down of NNPC Ltd, oil companies in Rivers

The Rivers State Government has refuted a report circulating on social media,...

Tinubu to NEC: Allow tax reform bills pass through legislative process, public hearing

President Bola Tinubu has received the National Economic Council’s recommendation that the...

Minister Inspects Bagaja Renewables’ Zawaciki 1MWp Mini-Grid Amid Northern Power Crisis

As northern Nigeria grapples with prolonged power outages, Minister of Power Adelabu...

Just in: Court grants VeryDarkMan N2m bail

Reprieve has come for the detained social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly...