Granting the interlocutory injunction on May 29th, the court adjourned to July 1st, 2024 for mention.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday issued an interlocutory injunction barring Hon. Martins Amaewhule and others from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly.
Justice C.N. Wali gave the order while presiding over a suit filed by the pro-Governor Siminilayi Fubara lawmakers led by their Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy.
Listed as 1st to 25th defendants in the suit are the lawmakers, while Governor Fubara , the Attorney-General and the Chief Judge of the state are 26th to 28th defendants respectively.
Granting the interlocutory injunction on May 29th, the court adjourned to July 1st, 2024 for mention.
The Judge declared that “An order of interlocutory injunction is granted restraining the 1st to 25th defendants from parading and holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road Port Harcourt or at any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative seats having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby made restraining the 26th to 28th defendants from dealing with, interfacing, accepting any resolutions, bills and/or however interacting with the 1st to 25th defendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from 13th December, 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
365Daily recalls that the court had granted a similar order on a motion ex-parte to stop the governor, the attorney-general and the Chief Judge from interacting with the affected lawmakers on May 10, 2024..