The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has established a special three-member panel to address political disputes in Rivers State, including a case between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly.
The panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, also includes Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga will hold its first sitting on Thursday.
On Monday, another panel of the Court of Appeal postponed three related cases to Thursday to allow the Otisi-led special panel to begin its work.
During the session, Justice Hamma Barka noted that some of the defendants had not yet been served with court documents.
Paul Erokoro, representing the appellant, assured the court that he would take steps to complete the service to all parties involved. He added, “This appeal…is one of those Rivers matters for which a special panel was constituted.”
The appeals adjourned include one filed by the Rivers State Government against the State House of Assembly and others, a second by the Rivers State Accountant General, and a third by the Action Peoples Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission and others. All three appeals will be heard by the special panel on November 14.
