Judgement Pending: Court of Appeal Deliberates on Rivers Assembly Turmoil

The Court of Appeal has postponed its judgment on the appeal filed by Martin Amaewhule, a former Speaker of the River State House of Assembly, and 24 others against the current Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and five additional respondents.

Following a virtual session on Thursday, the appellate court decided to reserve its judgment after all parties involved in the case presented their briefs.

Amaewhule and his colleagues are seeking to halt the enforcement of a high court decision that removed them from office. They also aim to invalidate any actions taken by Jumbo during his tenure and are pushing for a prompt resolution, arguing that the original court’s order lacked proper jurisdiction.

In response, Oko-Jumbo and the other respondents have called for the dismissal of the appeal, deeming it meritless due to alleged procedural issues with the appeal records.

After considering the arguments from both sides, the three-judge panel, led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada, decided to reserve judgment. The date for the judgment will be communicated to the parties involved.

Previously, on June 14, the appellate court issued an order maintaining the status quo and prohibiting any hostile actions by the parties until a decision is reached. This order was issued in response to a motion ex parte filed by the appellants, seeking to overturn the high court ruling that declared their legislative seats vacant.

Furthermore, the appellate court has barred the State High Court or any other court from further addressing the matter until the appeal is resolved.

The conflict arose on May 10, 2024, when the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt ruled that Martin Amaewhule should no longer identify himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This decision was made following a motion by the new Speaker, Victor Jumbo, and two others, asserting that Amaewhule’s seat had been declared vacant.