The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers Assembly

  • Attack on Rivers Assembly: Court refuses bail for Fubara’s supporters

    Attack on Rivers Assembly: Court refuses bail for Fubara’s supporters

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the request for bail made by three out of the five supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state charged with terrorism and murder.

    The five suspects are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod.

    On Friday, the court heard the bail applications by Ezebalike and Oladele, and Kpasa

    In a ruling on Monday, February 5, on the joint application by Ezebalike and Oladele, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon held that both defendants (listed as first and second) failed to provide special circumstances to warrant their being admitted to bail.

    Justice Olajuwon added that they failed to supply cogent and verifiable evidence in support of their bail application.

    The judge held that the defendants were charged with terrorism offences which are ordinarily not bailable.

    She faulted the affidavit supporting their bail application, noting that the deponent, one Mariam Alawiye (an office assistant) claimed to have obtained information and exhibits on the defendants from some persons, but failed to disclose the identities of the said persons.

    Justice Olajuwon also noted that the documents referred to by the deponent were not exhibited before the court as required under Section 115 of the Evidence Act.

    She noted that rather than contain facts as required by law, the affidavit contained extraneous issues incapable of persuading any court to grant bail.

    Justice Olajuwon rejected the applicants’ claim that they would not jump bail, commit any other offence or interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses and investigation.

    In rejecting Kpasa’s application, Justice Olajuwon held that his claim that he has been suffering from chronic hypertension and high blood pressure for the past 10 years was not supported by any medical documents.

    The judge noted that the prosecution’s counter-claim that the health conditions could be effectively managed by medical personnel in the prison, where the defendants are being kept, was not disputed

    She ordered that the five defendants be returned to Kuje Prison, Abuja, and adjourned February 8 for the commencement of trial.

    The defendants were arraigned on January 25 on a seven-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly faults Fubara’s appointments, accuses governor of violating Constitution

    They are accused, among others, of committing terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing, and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of the political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

    The defendants are also accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim, and five police informants in the Ahoada community of the state.

    The prosecution gave the names of the murdered police informants as Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu, and Saturday Edi.

    The defendants are equally accused of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland, and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.

  • JUST IN: Court to rule on suspected Rivers assembly’s arsonists’ bail on Monday

    JUST IN: Court to rule on suspected Rivers assembly’s arsonists’ bail on Monday

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 5 for ruling on bail applications filed by five suspected persons accused of burning down part of the Rivers House of Assembly on Dec. 29, 2023.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon fixed the date after lawyers to the prosecution and that of the defence adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the bail plea.

    Justice Olajuwon also dismissed the application filed by Chime Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele, who are 1st and 2nd defendants, challenging the competence of the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police to institute a terrorism charge against them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) earlier reported that the judge struck out an application filed by Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, seeking an order to strike out the charge against him and others for want of jurisdiction.

    She also struck out the CoS’ prayer for an order striking out his name anywhere it might have appeared in the charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024.

     Olajuwon, in a short ruling, held that Ehie, having not been joined as a defendant in the charge lacked the legal right to make such plea.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ehie, who was recently appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects charged by the I-G for burning down the Rivers House of Assembly.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly faults Fubara’s appointments, accuses governor of violating Constitution

    NAN reports that five suspected arsonists of the Rivers assembly were, on Jan. 25, arraigned before Justice Olajuwon on seven-count charge bordering on  alleged terrorism, among others.

    Ehie, whose name was mentioned in the charge, was alleged to be at large with five other suspects.

    The five suspected arsonists (defendants) arraigned are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge  and were ordered to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

    (NAN)

  • Rivers Assembly arson: Five sent to prison

    Rivers Assembly arson: Five sent to prison

    Five men linked to the attack on the Rivers State House of Assembly and the destruction of the chamber were yesterday remanded in Kuje Prison.

    They were arraigned on a seven-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), at the Federal High Court in Abuja in relation to the attack.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon said the five, arrested in Port-Harcourt, but brought to Abuja for prosecution, will remain in prison until February 2 when their bail applications would be considered.

    The five are: Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    The defendants have been accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalising and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of political crisis witnessed in Rivers State in October last year.

    Read Also; Reinvigorating anti-terror war (1)

    They are equally accused of killing Mr. Bako Agbashim a Superintendent of Police (SP) and five police informants in Ahoada community in the state.

    The police informants allegedly killed by the defendants are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

    The defendants are also accused of using various cult groups, identified as “Supreme Viking Confraternity”, “Degbam, Iceland and Greenland” – to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and disrupt commercial activities.

    The five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

    Leader of the four members of the Rivers Assembly, Edison Ehie, was not named as one of the defendants in the charge. But, his name was mentioned in the body of the charge where he was said to be at large.

    A lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), who announced appearance for Ehie, said he was in court because his client’s name featured in almost of the counts of the charge.

    The judge did not entertain much contribution from Aladedoye on the grounds that his client was not yet a defendant in the case.

    The prosecuting lawyer, Audu Garba, urged the court to remand the defendants in custody and to set a date for trial in view of their not guilty plea.

    Defence lawyer, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN) for Ezebalike and Oladele sought the court’s permission to move his clients’ bail application, nothing that they have been in detention since their arrest last year.

    Garba objected to the hearing of the bail application on the grounds that he was just with it a d needed time to study it and reply accordingly.

     Justice Olajuwon, who upheld Garba’s objection, noted that the bail application was not ripe for hearing.

    She adjourned till February 2 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant’s be remand in prison.

    In one of the counts in the charge, the defendants are alleged to have, on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, conspired to commit acts of terrorism by willful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    Some of the counts read:

    ·      That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    ·      That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  • BREAKING: Attack on Rivers Assembly: Court sends Fubara’s supporters to prison

    BREAKING: Attack on Rivers Assembly: Court sends Fubara’s supporters to prison

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, January 25, ordered that five men be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja over the attack and destruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon said the five, arrested in Port-Harcourt, but brought to Abuja for prosecution, will remain in prison until February 2 when their bail applications would be considered.

    The five are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thank god.

    They were arraigned on a seven-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The defendants are accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of the political crisis witnessed in Rivers State in October last year.

    They are equally accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants in the Ahoada community in the state.

    The police informants allegedly killed by the defendants are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

    The defendants are also using various cult groups, identified as – Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland – to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and disrupt commercial activities.

    The five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them on Thursday.

    The immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie was not named as defendant in the charge, but his name was mentioned in the body of the charge where he was said to be at large.

    A lawyer, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), who announced an appearance for Ehie, said he was in court because his client’s name featured in most of the counts of the charge.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly threatens to shun Fubara’s correspondences

    The judge did not entertain much contributions from Aladedoye because his client was not yet a defendant in the case.

    The prosecuting lawyer, Audu Garba urged the court to remand the defendants in custody and to set a date for trial given their not guilty plea.

    Defence lawyer, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN) for Ezebalike and Oladele sought the court’s permission to move his client’s bail application, noting that they have been in detention since their arrest last year.

    Garba objected to the hearing of the bail application because he was just with it and needed time to study it and reply accordingly.

     Justice Olajuwon, who upheld Garba’s objection, noted that the bail application was not ripe for hearing.

    She adjourned till February 2 for a hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison.

    In one of the counts of the charge, the defendants are alleged to have, on October 29, 2023, at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, conspired to commit acts of terrorism by the wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying, and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    Some other counts read: “That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, a businessman of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie, and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by the wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    *That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, businessman of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie, and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters, and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  • Rivers Assembly to screen nine ex-commissioners

    Rivers Assembly to screen nine ex-commissioners

    The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday invited nine nominees for re-screening and re-confirmation as commissioners in Governor Siminilayi Fubara-led State Executive Council (Exco).

    The nominees were former Exco members who resigned their appointments during the heat of the political crisis rocking the state.

    Most Rivers residents believed that the invitation was a quantum leap to the governor’s continuous mantra for peace and his disposition to fulfill the Abuja Accord initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he endorsed with other stakeholders in the crisis.

    The peace document contained eight resolutions out of which two were immediately implemented, one each by Fubara and the House of Assembly.

    The Martins Amaewhule-led Assembly, a day after the meeting, implemented Resolution Two by withdrawing an impeachment notice it issued to the governor while Fubara, during his Christmas broadcast, confirmed that he had enforced Item Four by paying all the withheld entitlements of the lawmakers.

    The resignation of Edison Ehie from the House of Assembly was said to have nullified all legal suits he instituted against the Amaewhule-led Assembly and automatically led to the fulfillment of the part of the agreement that required the parties to withdraw all their cases from the courts.

    It was gathered that the governor had also met Resolutions Three and Five, which mandated him to recognise the Amaewhule-led Assembly and allow it choose its place of sitting.

    The Assembly has reportedly been sitting at a designated area in the Legislative Quarters on Aba Road without molestation.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly awaits Fubara’s 2024 Budget, others

    Yesterday’s invitation of the nominees was said to be a sign that the parties were disposed to meeting Item Seven in the peace accord, which requested the governor to return the commissioners who resigned amidst the crisis.

    A statement by the Clerk to the House of Assembly, Dr. Emeka Amadi, gave the names of the nominees as: Zacchaeus Adangor, Dr. Jacobson Mbina, Dr. Gift Worlu, Mrs. Inime Chinwenwo- Aguma, Chukwuemeka Woke, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom, Dr. George-Kelly D. Alabo, Isaac Kamalu, and Austin Ben Chioma.

    The statement named the venue as the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Legislative Quarters, Off PH/Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt.

    “Nominees are to come along with 40 sets of Curriculum Vitae (CV), photocopies of their credentials and their originals,” the statement said.

    If the implementation of Resolution Seven sails through, the governor would be saddled with enforcing a major part of the agreement – Resolution Eight – which mandates him to re-present his already signed budget to a fully constituted House of Assembly.

    Information and Communications Commissioner Joe Johnson confirmed yesterday that the Assembly’s invitation was in line with the commitment of the governor to fulfill the peace accord.

    But he did not state whether or not the House of Assembly’s move was following a letter the governor had written to them.

    “The most important thing is that the governor is committed to implementing the peace accord,” he said.

  • ‘You were never a speaker,’ Rivers Assembly mocks Fubara loyalist Ehie

    ‘You were never a speaker,’ Rivers Assembly mocks Fubara loyalist Ehie

    Rivers House of Assembly has launched a new attack on Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s loyalist and former factional speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Edison Ehie, saying the ex-lawmaker was never a speaker.

    Ehie, who was the majority leader of the Assembly before announcing himself as the factional speaker on December 29, 2023, resigned from his position as both the speaker and member representing Ahaoda East Constituency 11 in the Assembly on December 29, 2023.

    A Rivers State high court had also held that Ehie should be recognised as a speaker pending the determination of a substantive suit before it.

    In a statement released in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, January 3, the Clerk of the Assembly, Emeka Amadi, asserted that Ehie was never elected speaker of the Assembly and that he shouldn’t have claimed to have resigned from that position.

    He said: “The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to a letter dated 29 December 2023, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and circulating in the media. It was purportedly written and signed by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS – member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State of Assembly wherein he claimed to have resigned from the position of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an office he never occupied.

    Read Also: Rivers Assembly withdraws impeachment notice against Fubara

    “I am therefore directed to call on the good people of Rivers State to disregard the false claim in this letter that is intended to mislead the unsuspecting public. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS was never at any time in the life of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected a Speaker. The Office of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a creation of the 1999 Constitution (As altered) and should not be ridiculed by any member who swore to preserve it and abide by the Constitution.

    “As a matter of fact, on Monday, the 5th day of June 2023, after the proclamation of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the Governor, and in line with Section 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (As altered), I, as the then Acting Clerk of the House, conducted the election that produced Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, as the Speaker of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the unanimous votes of all other thirty-one (31) members sitting and present. It is also imperative to state that, from the 5th day of June 2023, when he was elected till today, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS, has been performing his duties as the Speaker.”

  • Rivers Assembly 27: our defection constitutional

    Rivers Assembly 27: our defection constitutional

    The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have not violated the constitution,  their leader, Martins Amaewhule, said yesterday.

    He spoke at the APC stakeholders meeting in Port-Harcourt,  the state capital, where the lawmakers received the party logo after their admittance  into the chapter.

    Amaewhule, who justified the defection, said he and his colleagues acted within the provisions of the constitution.

    He said: “Some days ago, we defected inside the hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic if Nigeria.

    “We made sure that we followed due process. We made sure that we did not do anything outside the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    “The constituency has given people room to defect; Section 109(1)(g) allows serving legislators who want to defect to do so, but with a proviso that there is a division in the party upon which they got to the House of Assembly; and indeed, there is clearly a division in the PDP.

    Read Also: Kano: No deal with NNPP to compromise Supreme Court judgement, APC dispel rumour

    “So, in line with that section, we defected to the APC.”

    Amaewhule added: “This explanation is important to educate those who do not know the provisions of the constitution on the matter, but think that we did not meet the requirements of the constitution in doing this.

    “Again, the constitution equally stated that it is the Speaker who  should give effect of Section 109(1)  to the movement, and by virtue of the provision, members have the right, and have exercised the right because of the division in the PDP.”

    At the ceremony were the National chairman of the party,  Dr. Umar Ganduje, represented by the National Legal Adviser, Abdulkarim Kana, and  the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka. 

    Amaewhule, who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency 1, said  none of the defectors went back to their vomit as being  speculated in some quarters.

    He said apart from one of them who is out of the country on health ground, 26 lawmakers attended the dedication service .

    Amaewhule stressed: “Twenty-seven  of us who defected to the APC recently are intact and are all present here on this podium, except one person who is not here on health ground.”

    He chided the PDP  for keeping mute when the House of Assembly complex was set on fire by unknown  arsonists.

    Amaewhule said: “The party never said anything when the House of Assembly was burnt down. They neither made any official statement in that regards nor condemned the act.

    “A whole hallowed chamber of a state legislature was burnt down. The party never condemned it. No written statement, no official statement. That shows that they were not interested in what was going on in the House of Assembly.”

    He lauded the policies of President Bola Tinubu,  urging the people of the state to support his efforts at turning around the country.

    Amaewhule said: “I am not saying that all is well in the country, but what we’re saying is that President Tinubu has started well, and the foundation is strong. So, he needs the support of Nigerians,.

    “We have taken a decision to be in the APC. We will work with Mr. President and we will give him all the support he needs. We want to be among those who be on the side of history; supporting Mr. President so that he can turn the fortunes of this country around.”

    Amaewhule praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for living to expectation as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    He urged the people to support indigenes holding any federal appointments so that they can attract Democratic dividends to the state.

    Receiving them into the fold, Ganduje described the APC as a party for the common man, hailing the defectors for their decision.

    He said: “The APC is party for the people, it is party for  common man. The President recognised that the people are with the members of the House of Assembly in this struggle and that is the reason we respect their decision, action and move to join the party of the people, to join in moving Nigeria forward, grow and unite the country and make APC a national party.”

    The APC Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman, Tony Okocha, said APC will right the wrongs and halt the bad leadership in the state.  

    “Today’s  meeting is not to remind you of your sordid past. It is rather for us to forge ahead for a great feature.

    “We will not brood over anger of what has happened before. We’re here to plan for our feature.

    “If that is the case, the I owe you a duty to apologise to APC members in Rivers state, please, accept our apologies.

    “We have goofed over time. We have flopped our chances over them. Going forward, APC will no longer be a social club in Rivers State.”

    During the church service, the presiding priest of the Niger Delta North Diocese of the Anglican Church in Rumuopara, Ven. Chimela Samuel, urged political office holders to seek and treasure wisdom so that they can succeed in their mandates.

    Wike to Fubara: don’t pull down   ladder you used in climbing 

     Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has cautioned his estranged political godson against pulling down the ladder he used in getting to his position as governor of the oil-rich Southsouth state.

    Wike was said to have given the warning at the weekend when he received some traditional rules who visited his Pot Harcourt home to felicitate with him on his birthday.

    A source at the meeting quoted the minister, who is the immediate past governor of the state, as saying:  ”It is unwise for anyone to pull the ladder that he used in climbing.

    “When you are coming down, the ladder may not be there. Leave the ladder   so that other people can also climb with it..”

    Wike assured the monarchs who were led by Eze  Nwachukwu Nnam,  that he was personally disposed to a peaceful resolution of the faceoff between him and Fubara.

    The minister also debunked claims that the faceoff was an ethnic war.

    He said: “We didn’t vote based on ethnicity…but for the unity of Rivers. We shall never be part of violence but will always support peace.”

    “There are rules within the political group you emerge. You cannot say that because a king has emerged and then a king will not follow the rules of the traditional institution. 

    “No; a king will always obey the rules. So, also in politics, there are things you must not do and there are things you must do.”

  • Why we dumped PDP for APC, by Rivers Assembly members

    Why we dumped PDP for APC, by Rivers Assembly members

    • ‘Declare their seats vacant’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Rivers State was yesterday hit by a massive implosion.

    Twenty-seven PDP members of the House of Assembly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors action attributed their defection to the protracted crisis in the party’s national leadership.

    They explained that their defection had nothing to do with the crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike, his predecessor.

    Led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the lawmakers dumped the PDP at plenary, chiding Governor Siminalayi Fubara for refusing to hand over former Majority Leader Edison Ehie and others to the police for investigation into their alleged involvement in the arson on the House of Assembly complex.

    Ehie is leading a group of four members of the House of Assembly.

    The Rivers Assembly is made up of 32 members. One members died recently.

    In their letters to the Speaker, the lawmakers also attributed their defection to the division triggered by the tussle for the position of the National Secretary of the party.

    Read Also: Why The Nation swept all stakes at prestigious 32nd DAME

    They complained that the conflicts has made communications channel hazy and difficult.

    The letter was read on the floor of the House.

    With the defection, PDP now has only five members in the Assembly.

    The lawmakers sang the familiar partisan anthem:” On-your-mandate we shall stand,” waving the APC flags.

    Many of them shouted “Jagaban” throughout the process as they posed for a group photograph, before they left the complex.

    According to the lawmakers, the confusion surrounding the position of the National Secretary has led to a plethora of court cases instituted by party members.

    They accused Fubara of shielding suspected arsonists who attempted to set the Assembly ablaze.

    In a motion sponsored by 26 lawmakers and moved by Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuwa Constituency), they condemned the seizure of funds for the management of the Assembly.

    The lawmakers condemned the brazen and unlawful attack on them and the Assembly as an institution.

    According to them, the governor should release funds meant for the management of the Assembly for  November.

    They threatened to decline requests from Fubara for approvals, adding that his actions are no longer in tandem with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the laws of the state.

    The lawmakers later deliberated on the Rivers State Local Government Law (Amendment) Bill 2023, which was at its Second Reading.

    The bill was sponsored by the Leader of the House and member representing Akuku Toru Constituency 1, Majority Jack.

    Members unanimously declared that some sections of the local government law were repugnant and needed to be amended to ensure that elected local government officials were not at the mercy of any individual.

    Amaewhule sent the bill to the House Committee on Local Government to conduct a public hearing and make further inputs within two weeks.

  • Rivers Assembly gets court order to continue sitting

    Rivers Assembly gets court order to continue sitting

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on November 29 ordered the Rivers Assembly to continue performing its legislative functions pending the determination of the motion on notice, it was discovered yesterday 

    The court also barred the Rivers State Government from withholding the funding of House and stopped the National Assembly from making any attempt to take over the functions of the Rivers Assembly.

    The court further stopped the Rivers Government from transferring the clerk, the deputy Clerk and any other employee appointed by the assembly.

    The court issued the orders following a suit brought before it by the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule.

    Named as defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker, the House Majority Leader and the House Minority Leader.

    Read Also: Court to hear Rivers Assembly crisis suit Dec. 5

    Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance, Rivers Attorney-General, Rivers Civil Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police.

    Ruling on the prayers of the plaintiffs contained in the motion exparte dated November 29th, the court presided over by Justice J.K. Omotosho, granted the reliefs.

    The court in a certified copy of its order observed that the affidavit in support of the motion exparte showed that more than two-third or 25 out of the 31 members were sitting and transacting business.

    The court said: “That the Rivers State House of Assembly is a constitutional institution that needs to be preserved pending the determination of the motion on notice”.

    Consequently, the court issued an order of interim injunction restraining the first to 14th defendants from taking over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly or in any manner assuming the roles and functions or duties of the assembly pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated and filed November 29th 

    “An order of interim injection restraining the first to 14th defendants by themselves or by their servants, agents or privies from withholding the funds of Rivers State House of Assembly  or deal in any manner howsoever with the funds meant for the Rivers State House of Assembly pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    “An order restraining the 11 to 14th defendants whether by themselves or by their servants or agents from howsoever taking over the control of appointment, removal, transfer or generally taking control of persons appointed into the office of the clerk, deputy Clerk or other members of staff of the first plaintiff or in any manner howsoever interfering with the performance of the functions or duties of persons appointed into the said offices pending the hearing or determination of the motion on notice”.

    The court further issued an order “restraining the 11th to 14th defendants from withholding any amount standing to the credit of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the consolidated revenue fund of Rivers State including salaries and emoluments due and payable to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other members of the first plaintiff as well as to the clerk, deputy Clerk and other members of staff of the House in any manner whatsoever denying the assembly of due fund for running it’s affairs pending the hearing of the motion on notice”.

    The court said: “The above orders are made basically on the fact that the 25 members out of 31 Rivers State House of Assembly are sitting and transacting business, therefore, the plaintiff/applicants are hereby ordered to enter to undertake as damages to the tune of N1bn if it is discovered or established that less than 25 members or two-third of Rivers State House of Assembly are not sitting and transacting business as stated in the affidavit to support the motion”.

    The court in the copy of the order signed by its Registrar, Blessing Ugwu had  adjourned the matter  till December 7th for hearing.

  • Drama as Rivers Assembly holds valedictory session for late lawmaker

    Drama as Rivers Assembly holds valedictory session for late lawmaker

    Amid the mild drama, the Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday, December 7, held a valedictory session in honour of the late lawmaker representing Khana Constituency 2, Denobari Loolo.

    It was gathered that drama ensued initially when operatives of the Rivers State Police command tried to stop the lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule from gaining access into the assembly complex to hold the event.

    The security was beefed up around the complex with over 15 patrol vans of armed policemen deployed in the area.

    But after the initial hiccups, the lawmakers were reportedly allowed access to the complex where in their 86th sitting, they held the session for Lolo, who until his demise was the chairman of the House Committee on Environment.

    Read Also: Court to hear Rivers Assembly crisis suit Dec. 5

    Speaking at the session, serving and former members were said to have acknowledged the intellectual doggedness and amiable disposition of Loolo, saying he contributed intelligently and meaningfully at plenaries and committee meetings.

    In his tributes, the speaker, Amaewhule, described Loolo as one, who as a lawyer brought his knowledge of the law to his legislative duties, adding that the late lawmaker was a humble and easy-going legislator.

    Amaewhule recalled that Loolo deputized him when he was a Majority Leader in the Eighth Assembly, and affirmed that he handled the position with panache.

    While describing him as legendary, the speaker said he would be greatly missed by his colleagues and urged his family to take solace in God.