The Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, issued an ex parte order of interim injunction barring the Chief Judge of the state, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and the Clerk of the state House of Assembly from recognizing or dealing with the Martins Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly.
Justice Jumbo Stephen, who presided over the court, issued the order preventing the Chief Judge and the Clerk from engaging with Amaewhule and 26 other individuals as members of the Assembly.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that this injunction extends to prohibiting any actions based on resolutions, articles of impeachment, or communications from the Amaewhule-led faction.
The lawsuit, marked PHC/2177/CS/2024, was filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State, along with Governor Siminialayi Fubara, who are the first and second plaintiffs respectively.
The defendants in the case include Amaewhule and 26 others, as well as the Chief Judge of the State, Victor Oko-Jumbo, the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The court’s injunction specifically restrains the Chief Judge and the Clerk from any engagement with the Amaewhule-led assembly members. The order mandates:
“That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the first to 27th defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment or order of the defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.”
Additionally, the court directed all involved parties to maintain the status quo ante litem as of July 5, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
The court also ordered substituted service of the originating and other processes to be made by posting the documents at Quarters, opposite the former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The case has been adjourned to July 15, 2024, for the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
This legal action comes amid escalating tensions within the Rivers State political landscape.
The Amaewhule-led lawmakers, who are known to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had earlier on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Fubara.
They demanded the re-presentation of the 2024 budget, underscoring the deepening rift and power struggle within the state’s political factions.
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