Court declares 25 Rivers lawmakers’ seats vacant

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has declared the seats of the 25 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.

Presiding judge Justice Charles Wali, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, declared the lawmakers’ seats vacant, pending the determination of a suit.

Justice Wali gave the order in Suit No PHC/1512/CS/2024, filed by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Jumbo; Sokari Sokari and Orubienimigha Timothy on the current crises rocking the House.

The judge also ordered factional Speaker Martin Amaewhule to stop parading himself as the Speaker of the House.

Justice Wali equally bared the 24 defected lawmakers from posing as lawmakers in Rivers State.

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The judge said: “An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is granted restraining the first to 25th defendants from parading themselves as members of the Rivers House of Assembly and/or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at  Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

“Their legislative seats are hereby 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 interacting with the first to 25th descendants in their purported capacities as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Their legislative seats having been declared vacant with effect from December 13, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“This case is adjourned to July 1, 2024, for mention.”

The Star