Rivers Assembly Tussle: Appeal Court To Rule On Applications On Monday
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 31, 2024 adjourned ruling till Monday, June 3, 2024, on the application brought before it by Hon. Martins Chike Amaewhule and 24 Others Vs Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others over the decision of the High Court of Rivers State stopping them from parading as members of the State Assembly.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, the respondents filed a counter which prompted the court to direct the plaintiff to respond between now and noon tomorrow and show proof of service to the respondents through any means even through WhatsApp and also directed the respondents to respond by Monday morning before the resumed hearing.
Counsel to the plaintiff, told the court to consolidate all the applications before it, following Thursday’s interlocutory injunction granted by the High Court of Rivers State despite the pendency of the appeal before a superior court.
The three-man panel of Justices adjourned to June 3, 2024 to hear and rule on all applications ahead of the resumed hearing and ruling on the application.
The High Court of Rivers State, presided over by Justice C.N. Wali, on Thursday, granted an ex parte order restraining Amaewhule and the 24 others from parading themselves as members of the House of Assembly and holding any sessions.
Amaewhule and the 24 pro-Wike lawmakers appealed against the ex parte order urging the Appeal Court to vacate the order and dismiss the suit.
However, during the resumed hearing on Friday, the respondents, Oko-Jumbo and others, filed a counter-application which led the court to have directed the plaintiff to respond by 12 noon, Friday, May 31, 2024, and to show proof of service to the respondents through any means, including WhatsApp.
