The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, has announced its intention to challenge the Court of Appeal decision regarding the assembly crisis.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly, a decision initially made by the Rivers State High Court.
During a plenary session on Friday, Oko-Jumbo expressed his group’s belief that the Appeal Court had made an error.
“We strongly believe that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO PHC/1512/CS/2024,” he said.
Oko-Jumbo further revealed that the Assembly has instructed their lawyers to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenging the Appeal Court’s July 4, 2024, judgment.
The plenary session, held at the temporary chamber in the Government House in Port Harcourt as mandated by an executive order from Governor Sim Fubara in December, also saw the consideration of two bills.
The “Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024,” sponsored by the leader of the Pro-Fubara lawmakers, Sokari Goodboy, and the “Rivers State Transport Reform Bill, 2024,” sponsored by deputy speaker Adolpus Timothy, both passed their first readings.
Amaewhule and 24 others are members of the assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The lawmakers were barred from the house following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Rivers Assembly has been engulfed in crisis since October 2023. The turmoil stemmed from the rift between Wike and his successor, Fubara.
