A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an order directing the warring factions in the Rivers State House of Assembly to maintain the status quo and suspend further deliberations pending the determination of their case in court.
The leadership crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly stemmed from a disagreement over the attempt by the former leadership to impeach the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. This conflict resulted in the removal of the former speaker and the subsequent election of Ehie Edison as his replacement.
In suit No. FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, Edison approached the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Phoebe Ayua, seeking an injunction to prevent Amaewhule and other lawmakers from presiding over the activities of the legislative arm of the state. The notice was filed together with the main suit by the new Speaker and the House of Assembly.
The plaintiffs in the suit are the Rivers State House of Assembly and Ehie Ogerenye Edison (Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly), while the defendants include Martins Chike Amaewhule (former Speaker), Dumle Maol (former Deputy Speaker), the Inspector-General of Police, Director of the Department of State Security Services in Rivers State, and the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State.
Justice Ayua, in her ruling, ordered all parties involved to refrain from taking any action regarding the matter, emphasizing the need for respect for the court. She stated, “That an order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this court—sub judice—pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
In the suit, the new speaker and the House of Assembly sought a declaration that the former speaker and his former deputy, having been removed and suspended from the House, are not entitled to participate, disturb, interfere, or obstruct the performance of the legislative proceedings of the House and the legislative duties of the new speaker in accordance with the provisions of sections 90 to 104 of the Constitution of Nigeria. They also sought an order restraining the former two principal officers of the House from interfering with or participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.
Following the order, the court scheduled a hearing for November 27. The crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly continues to unfold amid legal intervention.
