The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state legislature.
Justice C.N. Wali granted the order in a suit filed by the faction of the Assembly loyal to Governor Siminilayi Fubara.
The Rivers Assembly became factionalised last October when the cordial relationship between Fubara and his predecessor and political godfather, Nyesom Wike, broke down.
While Amaewhule leads 24 lawmakers loyal to Wike, Victor Oko-Jumbo emerged this year as the Speaker of the faction loyal to Fubara.
Amid the crisis between Wike and Fubara, the pro-Wike lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
However, the PDP, on whose platform they were elected, approached the court, seeking an order declaring their seats vacant.
On Thursday, the Rivers APC fumed at the court order restraining the pro-Wike lawmakers from further sitting.
The Rivers State government, however, welcomed the development.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joseph Johnson, said, “The law has spoken, and once the law speaks, rascality must cease.”
But the Publicity Secretary of the Rivers APC, Chibuke Ikenga, alleged judicial compromise and executive interference.
