Anita Ogona
A high court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali, has issued an Order of interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule and his co-travellers from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly or from meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to carry out or purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as their legislative seats have been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion
It would be recalled that Martins Amaewhule and the other 24 of his colleagues had defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on which they were elected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali gave this order in a case in suit number PHC/1512/CS/2024, filled by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo (Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly) Hon. Sokari Goodboy, Hon. Orubienimigha Timothy, members of the assemblyz against Hon. Martin Chile Amaewhule and 24 others, and the Governor of Rivers State, the Attorney General of the state and the Chief Judge of the state.
Wali following the Motion Ex-parte and after hearing from Sammie A. Somiari, SAN with B.N.Owunabo,Esq. and others for the Claimants/Applicants entered that Amaewhule should stop acting as lawmakers.
The order read: “An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of 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.
“An Order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or howsoever interacting with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their 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 the Motion on Notice.
“It is further Ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice and the writ and other processes in this case be served on the 1st to 25th Defendants/Respondents within seven (7) days from date by substituted means to wit: by pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”
The court, however, adjourned the case till the 29th of May, 2024 for Motion on Notice.
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