Don’t Entertain Any Request From Amaewhule, 24 Others – Court Orders Rivers CJ, Assembly Clerk

The supremacy battle for the soul of Rivers State took another dramatic turn on Monday as a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an Exparte Order of Interim Injunction barring the Chief Judge of the State and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from dealing with the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers.

Also, the order issued by Justice Jumbo Stephen barred the two officials from having any dealings with the pro-Nyesom Wike-backed embattled members of the Assembly.

With clear indication that the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly is far from abating, the ban on the Chief Judge and the House Clerk also include acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment, or communications from the Amaewhule-led Assembly faction.

Marked PHC/2177/CS/2024, the suit was filed by the Attorney General of the State as the first plaintiff and the Governor of the State, Siminialayi Fubara, as the second plaintiff, against Martin Amaewhule and 26 others, as the first set of defendants, and Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and others, CJ of the State and Clerk of the State House of Assembly and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as second sets of defendants.

Additionally, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante litem as of July 5, 2024, until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is heard and determined.

It further said that an Order of Interim Injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd Defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st-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 other Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.

“That the parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem in this suit as of 5th July 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.

“An Order is hereby made for substituted service of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st-30th Defendants by pasting the same at Quarters, opposite former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, the court adjourned till 15th July 2024 for the motion on notice for Interlocutory injunction.

The Court order comes on the heels on the seven day ultimatum which the Martin Amaewhule issued to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the 2024 budget to the House