BREAKING: Court Restrains Wike’s Loyalists In Rivers House Of Assembly Political Crisis

A High Court sitting in Rivers State, has restrained the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly from using armed thugs, accompanied by police personnel, to gain access to the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the faction led by its Speaker, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, among other 26 members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike had on Monday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Amaewhule-led Assembly had accused the governor of withholding funds for the management of the Assembly.

The suit was brought by the State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, as claimants/applicants, against Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol as defendants following the fire incident that engulfed the Assembly complex on October 29, 2023.

Following this, Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State had ordered the relocation of the Assembly’s sitting to a secure venue during the building’s renovation.

Ruling on the motion ex parte in Suit No. PHC/3030/C5/2023, upon hearing the motion, Hon. Justice M. W. Danagogo granted the interim orders sought by the claimants/applicants to wit:

“An order restraining the defendants and the claimants from using armed thugs, accompanied by police personnel, to gain access to the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, pending the determination of the motion on notice.

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“An order preventing the defendants from disrupting the smooth operation of the claimants and interfering with their legislative duties during the renovation period.

“The second claimant is obligated to pay N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) in damages if the application is deemed frivolous.