Appeal Court reserves judgement in suit on Rivers Assembly crisis

An Appeal Court in Port Harcourt has reserved judgment in a case brought by Anabs Sara-Igbe and nine others against a previous ruling by Justice Chinwendu Nworgu of the Rivers State High Court.

The earlier ruling dismissed their suit against President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Martin Amaewhule, and two others for lack of jurisdiction.

The three-man panel, led by Justice Elfreda Oluwayamisi-Dawodu, reserved judgment to a later date, to be communicated to the parties after the adoption of their final written addresses.

During the adoption proceedings, Wilcox Agberetor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, representing the claimants, argued for the appeal to be granted, suggesting the matter be transferred back to the Chief Judge of Rivers State for reassignment to another judge.

On the other hand, K.C Njemanze, SAN, representing the House of Assembly, prayed for the dismissal of the appeal.

Counsels for President Tinubu and Governor Fubara did not submit briefs on the suit, and no lawyer represented the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the hearing.

The claimants initially approached the Rivers State High Court seeking an interpretation of the Nigerian Constitution regarding Tinubu’s authority to direct the governor to represent the 2024 budget to 25 lawmakers led by Amaewhule, even after their seats were declared vacant.

Justice Nworgu had previously struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction during hearing on applications for substitutive service against Amaewhule, the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the PDP.

Speaking to journalists outside the Appeal Court premises, Sara-Igbe emphasized their quest for the interpretation of the law regarding the Presidet’s eight-point resolution and the legitimacy of the twenty-seven lawmakers led by Amaewhule, even after defecting to other political parties.