By Publisher
The opposition Federal Lawmakers of the House of Representatives, known as Coalition G60, have insisted that the declaration of the seats of the 27 sacked Rivers lawmakers vacant had not been voided by any court in Nigeria.
Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the Spokesperson of the group, posited that the Appeal Court did not nullify the sack of the lawmakers.
It would be recalled that Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court on May 10, had following a suit filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, issued an interim injunction that restrained the lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the Assembly, having decamped from the political party that sponsored their elections.
The litigants, in their suit, contended that the ousted Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.
Consequently, Justice Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, the appellate court on Thursday ruling on an appeal by the former lawmakers who were led by the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Amaewhule, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, did not have the jurisdiction to do so.
The appellate court relief on Section 272(3) of the Constitution, which gives the Federal High Court the powers to determine whether the status of the seat of a House of Assembly member.
Reacting to the ruling, the G60 lawmakers insisted that since the Appeal Court did not decide on the validity of their defection from the party that elected them nor make declaration on their seats, the Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers’ seats remain vacant.
Ugochinyere clarified that the Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment, thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings, adding that the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.
“The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldn’t be misconstrued in any way. The sacked Rivers lawmakers’ seat remains vacant as Appeal Court didn’t decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant,” Ugochinyere said.
“Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.
“So the actions of the House formerly led by Ehi in declaring the seat vacant have not been declared null and void by any court. Jumbo remains the speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly; the legal fireworks continues, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.”
