Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The political crisis in Rivers State, Monday, took a sudden twist, as a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued an Exparte Order of Interim Injunction barring the Chief Judge of the State and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from receiving or dealing with any impeachment documents from Martins Amaewhule-led 25-member faction of the State House of Assembly, against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
This is coming less than 24 hours after Amaewhule-led faction signalled to commence impeachment proceeding against Gov. Fubara.
The CJ and Clerk of the Assembly, were also barred from dealing with Amaewhule and the 24 other pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers, from parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The suit marked PHC/2177/CS/2024 was filed by the Attorney General of the State as the first plaintiff and the Governor of the State, Siminialayi Fubara, as the second plaintiff, against Martin Amaewhule and 26 others, as the first set of defendants, and Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and others, CJ of the State and Clerk of the State House of Assembly and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as second sets of defendants.
The court also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante litem as of July 5, 2024, until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is heard and determined.
The order issued by Justice Jumbo Stephen, read: “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.”
It further read: “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.”
It was adjourned till 15th of July 2024 for the motion on notice for Interlocutory injunction.
Gov. Fubara and his estranged god-father and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike, have been involved in a battle for the control of Rivers State.
