Mohammed Shosanya
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out a suit before it challenging the legality and implementation of president Bola Tinubu’s peace proclamation on resolving the political crises in the state for lack of jurisdiction.
President, Tinubu had in the height of the political impasse between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, brokered an eight-point peace deal in Abuja, also known as the presidential proclamation, which among other stipulations directed that Governor Fubara represents the 2024 N800 billion to the whole house of assembly.
This was as a state high Court presided over by Justice Danagogo recognised Edison Ehie as the Speaker of the state assembly.
Ehie,who led four members of the state assembly loyal to Governor Fubara declared the seats of 24 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule after they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party which they were elected to the All Progressives Congress in December 2023 vacant and passed the budget into law.
The suit was filed by ten stakeholders of the state led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe against President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Martin Amaewhule, Rivers State House of Assembly and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Sara-Igbe and nine others representing Rivers Sons and Daughters had filed the suit against the defendants seeking constitutional interpretation whether the purported directives for the resolution of political impasse in the state were not inconsistent with sections of the Constitution of Nigeria as amended.
The claimants in the suit also sought the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution as amended on whether the president has the legal right to direct the governor to represent the 2024 budget to 24 members of state assembly led by Martin Amaewhule even after their seats were declared vacant.
The applicants further asked whether it was proper for names of commissioners who willingly resigned their offices to be re-submitted for screening and reabsorb into the cabinet of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The applicants in their reliefs also asked the court to determine whether the 24 House of Assembly members led by Amaewhule after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress still have rights to remain Assembly members.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu, did not allow for any motion, but delivered a ruling, declining jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Nworgu cited the judgment of James Omotosho of Abuja High Court which nullified activities of Edison Ehie led faction of the Assembly.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Sara-Igbe, said the suit was part of their efforts in fighting for the liberation of the souls of Rivers people.
Sara-Igbe added that the group would direct their counsel to appeal the decision of the court.