Court Orders Suspension of Activities in Rivers State House of Assembly Factions
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an order instructing the two factions in the Rivers State House of Assembly to maintain the status quo ante bellum and suspend further deliberations until the matter before the court is resolved.
In a suit filed by the factional Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, the court, presided over by Hon. Justice Phoebe Ayua, was asked to stop Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and other lawmakers from presiding over the legislative activities of the state government.
The court ruled that none of the parties on record should take any action concerning the matter, emphasizing the need for all parties to respect the court’s proceedings.
The suit sought, among other things, a declaration that the former speaker and his former deputy, having been removed and suspended from the House, are not entitled to interfere or obstruct the legislative proceedings of the House and the duties of the new speaker in accordance with the provisions of Sections 90 to 104 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. The court also granted an order restraining the former two principal officers from participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.
The court scheduled the hearing of the motion on notice for November 27, 2023. The leadership crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly arose from disagreements over attempts to impeach the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
