The Port Harcourt High Court has prolonged a temporary order that prevents the Chief Judge and Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from engaging with the Speaker Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
Governor Siminialayi Fubara and the Attorney-General of Rivers State obtained the initial order in a lawsuit filed against Speaker Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers. This recent development occurred after concerns were raised about potential impeachment efforts by the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
The lawsuit includes Victor Oko-Jumbo and the lawmakers, as well as the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as second defendants.
On July 8, Justice Jumbo Stephens issued an order instructing the parties involved to maintain the status quo until a decision is made on the pending motion. The court specifically stated:
“That an Order of Interim Injunction is hereby made restraining the 31″ and 32nd Defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st-27th Defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment or other Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
“That the parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem in this suit as of 5th July 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
“An Order is hereby made for substituted service of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st-30th Defendants by pasting the same at Quarters, opposite former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”
