Former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has received a devastating blow from his successor, governor Sim Fubara, as a Federal High Court sitting in the State has confirmed Honourable Edison Ehie as the legitimate speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Honourable Edison Ehie is one of the four gallant lawmakers in governor Siminalayi Fubara’s camp. He was the political buffalo that scuttled the impeachment attempt on the governor.
Though, the lastest landmark ruling by the court is coming after 27 lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to Mr Nysom Wike defected to the All Progressives Congress on Monday.
Recall that in the aftermath of the House of Assembly crisis, Ehie was suspended and replaced as leader of the House by his overzealous colleagues.
Also recall that there has been a serious political face-off between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike over control of the political structure in the State.
However, the court in it’s latest ruling, barred Martins Amaewhule and Dumle Maol from parading themselves as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly respectively.
The court also warned against the use of thugs and police operatives to forcefully gain access into the Assembly Complex.
The judgement reads, “AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants and the 2nd Claimant/Applicant either acting by themselves or through their agents, servants, privies, assigns or any person(s) acting in whatsoever manner and howsoever called or described, from further use of armed thugs accompanied by police personnel in riot gear to gain access to the Rivers State House of Assembly complex at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State which was burnt, destroyed, damaged and rendered uninhabitable as a result of the fire that engulfed the Assembly Complex on 29th day of October, 2023, contrary to the order of the executive Governor of Rivers State relocating the sitting of the 1 Claimant to a secure and more conducive venue to ensure that the activities and meetings of the House are not disrupted during the period of the renovation of the burnt building, pending the determination of the motion on notice already filed.
“AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and representatives in whatsoever and howsoever manner from preventing, disrupting and interfering with the smooth and regular operation, management and administration of the 1 Claimant/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.
“AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining The Defendants whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and representatives in whatsoever and howsoever manner from preventing, disrupting and interfering with the exercise of the 2nd Claimant/Applicant’s statutory legislative duties of summoning and holding meetings,proceedings, issuing notices, passing resolutions, bills and performing other legislative functions of the 1Claimant/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.
“The 2nd Claimant/Applicant is to pay the sum ofN50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) as damages if this application turns out to be frivolous.
“The Claimants/Applicants are further ordered to serve this Interim Order, the Motion on Notice already filed, the originating Process and other processes in this suit on the Defendants on or before the 13th day of December, 2023.
“Leave is granted to the Claimants/Applicants to serve all the processes listed in paragraph 4 above by substituted means, to wit: by publication in two National Newspaper Or by posing at a conspicuous part of the last known address of the Defendants.
“That this matter is adjourned to 21/12/2023 for motion on notice”
