A-Court reserves judgment on Rivers Assembly crisis

Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reserved its judgement in the case between Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 others against Victor Oko-Jumbo and others.

The Court reserved to deliver its judgement on a later date following the completion of defenses and adumbration by counsels to the parties in the matter.

The appellate court also adjourned till 21st June, Friday, for further hearing on other matters on the political crisis in the state pending before it.

The three man panel composed of Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada, Justice Hama Akawu Barka and Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu, made this decision during its sitting on appeal number CA/PHC/198/2024, monitored virtually.

Amaewhule and 24 others are challenging the Interlocutory Injunction of Justice Charles Wali of a State High Court holden in Port Harcourt, which validated the declaration of their sits in the State House of Assembly vacant, pending the determination of the suit before it.

The High Court had also ordered Amaewhule and others to stop parading themselves as members of the People’s Democratic Party and Rivers State House of Assembly till the matter before it is concluded.

However, Amaewhule and others who were disturbed by the decision of the high court approached the Court of Appeal sitting in the state for a stay and subsequent invalidation of the ruling.

When the Court sat on the 14th of June, it had urged the parties in the appeal to maintain status quo and advised the appellant to serve all the processes on the defendant.

Amaewhule in the suit at the Appeal is seeking a Stay of the Interlocutory Orders of the High Court and challenging the jurisdiction of the lower court to entertain the matter of the state assembly before it.

However, the court reserved to deliver its decision on the subject matter on a date to be communicated later.