Court orders Rivers Assembly to perform its functions

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and others from preventing the State House of Assembly from carrying out its functions and businesses, describing the State House of Assembly as a “constitutional institution that needs to be preserved” and must continue to function.

The court, which also restrained Governor Fubara from removing or transferring the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House further stopped the state government from “withholding any amount standing to the credit of Rivers State House of Assembly in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other members of the 1st Plaintiff as well as the Clerk, Deputy Clerk and other members of staff of the House.”

Justice J.K Omotosho, who gave the order in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, said that it was clear from the affidavit in support of the motion ex parte that 25 out of 31 members of the State House of Assembly were sitting and transacting business of the House.

The suit was filed by Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) and M.A. Ebute (SAN) on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martine Chike Amaewhule, against the state governor, Sim Fubara, Attorney General of the State, Commissioner of Finance, Accountant General and the Rivers State Civil Service Commission.

Other defendants are Inspector General of Police, National Assembly, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and others.