A high court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has restrained 25 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from parading themselves as lawmakers.
Justice Charles N. Wali gave the order on Friday, saying the lawmakers seats had been declared vacant.
Martin Amaewhule, the speaker and 25 other legislators affected by the ruling are loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
They had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the height of the rift between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
After their defection, their seats were said to have been declared vacant.
Those joined in the suit are the governor, the State Attorney-General, the 27 pro-Wike, while the pro-Fubara factional speaker, Oko-Jumbo and two others are plaintiff.
The court also restrained the lawmakers 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.
After listening to the motion, in suit NO: PHC/1512/CS/2024, moved by Sammie A. Somiari, SAN, Justice Wali held, “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 tneir purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, tneir legislative seats naving 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: of pasting at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislat ve Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt and for such service to be deemed good and proper.”
