Court Bars Amaewhule, 24 Others From Parading Themselves As Lawmakers

• Rivers Govt Establishes Conflict Prevention, Peace Committee In Councils • Bode George Seeks Party Elders, Stakeholders’ Intervention In Rivers Crisis

ARIVERS State High Court in Port Harcourt has barred the Speaker of the state assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other 24 lawmakers who decamped to the All Progressives Congress ( APC) from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that Amaewhule and the other 24 of his colleagues defected from the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on which they were elected to the APC.

Justice Charles N. Wali gave this order in a case with suit number PHC/ 1512/ CS/ 2024, filed by Victor Oko Jumbo ( Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly), Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy, members of the assembly; 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 exparte and after hearing from Sammie A. Somiari ( SAN) with B. N. Owunabo, Esq. and others for the claimants/ applicants stated that Amaewhule and the 24 others should stop acting as lawmaker.

Wali also ordered that the government of the state should stop dealing with the said lawmakers as their seats had remained vacant after defecting from the PDP that produced them.

The order read: "An Order of interim injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th defendants from parading and holding out themselves as membersof Rivers-statehouse 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 in junction 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 Houseof Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from December 13, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

Executive Vice Chairman of Globacom, Mrs. Bella Disu ( 5th left), with Head of Sub Saharan Africa, GSMA, Angela Wamola ( left); CEO of 9mobile, Juergen Peschel; CEO of MTN, Karl Toriola; Chief Regulatory Officer, Airtel Africa, Daddy Mukadi; Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo; Policy Director, GSMA, Caroline Mbugua, and Chairman of ATCON, Tony Emokpare, at the launch of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Report by GSMA at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday.