Rivers Court to Decide on Labour Party’s Suit Against Pro-Wike Lawmakers in January 2025

-




The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set January 21, 2025, as the date to rule on a suit filed by Labour Party candidates and pro-Fubara lawmakers against the Rivers State House of Assembly and 27 legislators led by Martin Amaewhule.

The lawmakers named in the suit include Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and Adolphus Timothy. The plaintiffs, Labour Party representatives, are challenging the alleged defection of the 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). They argue that such defections violate constitutional provisions and demand that the defectors vacate their seats to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections.

During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, both parties confirmed the exchange of pleadings and evidence before presenting their arguments on preliminary legal issues. Justice Emmanuel Obele, who presided over the case, announced an adjournment to rule on these preliminary points before addressing the main matter.

Cliford Chukwu, counsel for the Labour Party, emphasized that the defecting lawmakers' seats should be declared vacant, citing constitutional violations. Meanwhile, Emeka Onyeka, representing the 27 lawmakers, noted that the court’s current focus is to address preliminary legal questions before proceeding to the substantive case.

The court proceedings included the submission of a video clip allegedly showing the defection of Amaewhule and his colleagues. The clip was admitted as evidence and will be considered in the case.

The controversy stems from a political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The defecting lawmakers, who are aligned with Wike, announced their move from the PDP to the APC during a plenary session.

The outcome of the case is expected to set a significant precedent regarding the legality of such defections and their impact on legislative seats in Nigeria.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Title: Nepotism on the Bench: The Impact of Political Favoritism in Nigeria's Judiciary

-
Image
  In Nigeria, the judiciary stands as a pillar of democracy, tasked with upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all. However, recent events have cast a shadow over the integrity of the judiciary, as political favoritism and nepotism have infiltrated the process of judicial appointments. One glaring example of this troubling trend emerged with the recent list of appointments to the appeal court, where the wife of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, secured a position. This appointment raised eyebrows and sparked widespread debate about the fairness and transparency of the selection process. Nepotism, the practice of favoring relatives or friends in appointments, promotions, or business dealings, has long plagued Nigerian society. In the context of the judiciary, nepotism undermines the principles of meritocracy and impartiality, eroding public trust in the legal system. The appointment of family members of high-ranking politicians to judicial position...
Read more

Appeal Court Overturns Federal High Court Judgment on Rivers LG Polls

-
Image
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified a Federal High Court ruling that prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) with the voters' register required for conducting local government elections. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had earlier ruled against INEC's involvement, citing alleged non-compliance with electoral laws. However, the Rivers State High Court had previously mandated RSIEC to proceed with the elections using the 2023 voters' register, ensuring adherence to the expiration of prior local government officials' tenure in June. Context of the Rulings Justice I. Igwe of the Rivers State High Court directed RSIEC to conduct the local polls promptly, referencing constitutional and legal obligations under Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution and the RSIEC Law of 2018. The court also highlighted a recent Federal Government directive urging states to ens...
Read more

Rivers State to Receive Federal Allocation Despite Ongoing Legal Dispute

-
Image
The Federal Government has confirmed that Rivers State will continue to receive its federal allocations, despite a pending legal dispute challenging the disbursement of funds. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), clarified on Friday that a notice of appeal filed by the Rivers State government has effectively suspended the earlier judgment barring the release of allocations. “Since there is a notice of appeal, it has overridden the earlier court judgment. As a matter of law, Rivers State will be paid while the appeal is ongoing,” Mokwa stated. Legal Background On October 30, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling barring the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly allocations to Rivers State. The judgment followed a suit filed by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided ov...
Read more