Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo and other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, said they have appealed the Court of Appeal judgement that voided the State High Court decision that gave them power to serve as Speaker and members of the state legislature.
Jumbo said they were already at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered which held that that Justice Charles Wali of the State high lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter of the state legislature.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday in suit CA/PH/198/2024 filled by Amaewhule and others declared the High Court order that barred them from parading as speaker and lawmakers null and void.
Jumbo, who disclosed this while addressing lawmakers during their plenary at the temporary facility used for Legislative businesses in Port Harcourt on Friday clarified that the action was necessitated by the fact that they strongly believe that the Court of Appeal erred when it held that the State High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine Suit No. PHC/1512/CS/2024.
Jumbo, declared that he remained the authentic speaker because there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in the state, reiterating that the seats of Hon. Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers remained vacant as declared by the then speaker, Hon Edison Ehie, on 13th December, 2023.
He said fact was following their defection from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the 11th day of December, 2023.
He said, “There cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or indeed any State in Nigeria. This House of Assembly, with me as the Speaker, is the ONLY House of Assembly in Rivers State.
“As the whole world knows, on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Amaewhule and his 24 friends defected from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
On the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, declared the seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others in the RSHA vacant. That declaration by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria.”