July 05, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State House of Assembly lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
THEWILL earlier reported that a three-man panel of the appellate court on Thursday, vacated an order of the Rivers State High Court restraining 25 defected Rivers Assembly lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule from sitting and parading themselves as members of the Assembly.
Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, one of the lawmakers loyal to Fubara, said the appeal became necessary because the Rivers Assembly “strongly believes 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.”
Addressing the House at Friday’s plenary, Oko-Jumbo insisted that no declaration of the courts including Wednesday’s judgment of the Court of Appeal has nullified the pronouncement made by the immediate past Speaker of the House, Ehie Edison on December 13, 2023, declaring vacant the seats of Amaewhule and 24 other members who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oko-Jumbo maintained that he remains the authentic Speaker of the House and that the seats of Amaewhule and 24 other embattled lawmakers remain vacant.
“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 (APC).
“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 by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria”, he said.
About the Author
