Breaking: Court stops Amaewhule-led 27 Rivers Assembly members from sitting

Martins Amaewhule

Breaking: Court stops Amaewhule-led 27 Rivers Assembly members from sitting

The state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has barred the 27 lawmakers led by speaker, Martins Amaewhule from further sitting as members of the state House of Assembly.

The suit listed 25 lawmakers as 1st to 25th defendants and the governor of Rivers State, the Attorney-General, and the Chief Judge of the state as 26th to 28th defendants.

Ruling on a motion ex-parte, a copy of which was dated May 10 and obtained in Port Harcourt, the court also stopped the governor, the attorney-general, and the Chief Judge from interacting with the affected lawmakers.

The order specifically asked the lawmakers to stop parading themselves as members of the House of Assembly or conducting any legislative business as members of the House.

The court also ordered them to stop sitting at the auditorium of the House of Assembly quarters located along Aba Road or any other place whatsoever to conduct business as members of the House of Assembly.

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The court said: “An order of interim 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 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 motion on notice.

“Another interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolution, bills and or however interacting with the 1st to 25th defendants in the 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 motion on notice.”

The court further directed that the order, the motion on notice, and other processes on the 1st to 25th defendants be within seven days by substituted means.

The court adjourned to the 29th of May for the motion on notice.

The lawmakers affected by the order are Martin Amaewhule, Dumle Maol, Major Jack, Franklin Nwabochi, Christopher Ofiks, Azeru Okpara, Enemi George, Granville Wellington, Ngbar Bernard, John Iderema, Queen Uwuma Williams, Loolo Opuende, Abbey Peter, Igwe Aforji, Justina Emeji, Ignatius Onwuka, Chimzie Nwankwo, Lemchi Nyeche, Barile Nwakoh, Emilia Amadi, Nkemjika Ezekwe, David Okobiriari, Nwankwo Sylvanus, Gerald Oforji and Wami Solomon.