The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit questioning the legality of President Bola Tinubu’s involvement in resolving the political issues in the state. The court cited lack of jurisdiction as the reason for striking out the case.
The lawsuit, filed by 10 representatives of residents in the state, led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe, targeted President Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Speaker of the House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule, Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party.
The plaintiffs sought a constitutional interpretation of a peace accord and questioned whether the directives in the documents to address the political deadlock in the state were in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.
They also raised concerns about the president’s legal authority to instruct the governor to re-present the 2024 budget to 24 members of the House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, even after their seats were declared vacant.
Additionally, the applicants wanted clarification on the propriety of re-submitting names of commissioners who willingly resigned for screening.
The court was asked to determine whether the 24 members of the House of Assembly, led by Amaewhule, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), still had the right to be part of the legislature.
However, during the proceedings on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu, dismissed all motions and refused jurisdiction to hear the case.
Nworgu referenced the judgment of James Omotosho of Abuja High Court, which invalidated the activities of the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Assembly.
