The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an interlocutory injunction barring lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
The court, presided over by Justice C.N. Wali, granted the order in a suit filed by the pro-Governor Siminilayi Fubara lawmakers led by their Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and two others, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
The suit listed 25 lawmakers as defendants, as well as Rivers Governor, the Attorney-General, and the Chief Judge of the state as additional defendants.
The court had previously granted a similar order on May 10th, stopping the governor, the attorney-general, and the Chief Judge from interacting with the affected lawmakers.
The latest order, granted on May 29th, restrains the lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from meeting or sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters or any other location.
The order stated: “An order of interlocutory injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of the 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 at 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 substantive suit
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or however 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 substantive suit.”
The matter has been adjourned to July 1st, 2024, for mention.