RIVERS: Oko-Jumbo-led assembly holds sitting, insists on challenging A/Court decision

The Rivers State High Court’s expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was overturned by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

However, the group’s speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, stated in his opening remarks during a plenary today that he and his colleagues believed the Appeal Court erred in its decision.

“We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024,” he said.

“Accordingly, we have instructed our lawyers and they have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria Challenging the Judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 4th Day of July 2024.”

“There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or Indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly with me as the Speaker is the ONLY House of Assembly in Rivers State.

“Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS despite all their pretences are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and they remain so until a Court of Competent Jurisdiction says otherwise.

“Once again, we the legitimate Members of the RSHA HEREBY call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to promptly conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seats in the RSHA.

“We strongly urge the general public to ignore Martin Amaewhule & 24 ORS in their pretence that they are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers who gathered in the temporary chamber at the Government House in Port Harcourt, as directed by Governor Sim Fubara’s executive order in December, also discussed two measures.

Two measures are “Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024” sponsored by the Leader of the Pro-Fubara MPs, Sokari Goodboy, and “Rivers State Transport Reform Bill, 2024” supported by the group’s Deputy Speaker, Adolpus Timothy.

Both bills passed their first reading.