A high court in Port Harcourt has issued a restraining order against 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, preventing them from holding themselves out as lawmakers.
Justice Charles N. Wali, in a ruling delivered on Friday, May 10, also barred the legislators from convening or conducting legislative activities at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other location.
The affected individuals, including Martin Amaewhule, the speaker, and 25 other lawmakers, are aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These lawmakers had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the height of the dispute between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Justice Wali’s ruling stated:
“An interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st to 25th Defendants from presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly or convening/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other venue to conduct legislative affairs pending the resolution of the Motion on Notice, as their legislative seats have been declared vacant.
“An interim injunction is also issued restraining the 26th to 28th Defendants from engaging with, transacting with, or accepting any resolutions, bills, or other interactions with the 1st to 25th Defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, given that their legislative seats were declared vacant on December 13, 2023.
“Additionally, it is ordered that this Order, the Motion on Notice, and all related legal documents in this matter be served on the 1st to 25th Defendants/Respondents within seven (7) days from today through alternative means, specifically by affixing them to the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Legislative Quarters, Off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, with such service deemed valid and proper.”
