The Rivers State High Court has become the battleground for the latest legal dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration and the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, as commissioners appointed by the governor seek judicial protection from the legislature’s attempts to nullify their appointments.
The 19 commissioners, who were cleared by just four pro-Fubara lawmakers in the state assembly, have filed a suit urging the court to restrain Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers from:
The plaintiffs, led by Attorney-General Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, and Works Commissioner Olisaeloka Tasie-Amadi, are also asking the court to direct the Assembly to maintain the status quo until their case is determined.
Justice Frank Onyiri has granted leave for the defendants to be served through substituted means by pasting court notices at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt. The case has been adjourned to April 17 for a hearing.
In a separate suit, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), and his commissioners are also challenging the Assembly’s authority.
The lawmakers had issued a 48-hour summons for Enebeli to explain the nullified October 2024 local government election, including its funding. When he failed to appear, the ultimatum was extended by 72 hours.
Enebeli and his team are now asking the court to restrain the lawmakers from:
Justice Onyiri granted them substituted service and adjourned the matter to April 17.
Despite the court orders, the Rivers Assembly insists that RISIEC officials must appear before it on March 10 or risk constitutional sanctions under Section 129 (1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has received a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that confirmed Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker, dealing a blow to Governor Fubara’s position.
The court cases come as the political crisis in Rivers State escalates, with concerns over threats of violence and sabotage by militants loyal to different political factions.
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olugbenga Adepoju, has warned against any attempt to disrupt peace, stating:
“Nobody has a monopoly on violence. We will not allow anyone to heat up the polity.”
Stakeholders in the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) have also called for the immediate arrest of individuals allegedly threatening to destabilize the state over the political crisis.