A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party challenging the alleged defection of suspended Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Emmanuel Obile ruled that the case was beyond the jurisdiction of his court, noting that the core issue of defection had already been conclusively addressed by the Supreme Court.
Justice Obile emphasized that the apex court’s decision on the matter rendered any further hearing by a lower court unnecessary.
Lead counsel for the defendants, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ken Njemanze, had urged the court to dismiss the case, pointing to the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling which upheld the legitimacy of the lawmakers in question.
However, Labour Party counsel Clifford Chuku argued that the issue of defection was a collateral matter not thoroughly addressed by the Supreme Court and asked the court to proceed with the hearing.
The court, nonetheless, upheld the preliminary objection raised by the defense and dismissed the suit.
