Coalition of opposition federal lawmakers known as G60 has stated that the declaration of the seats of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers remain vacant, saying it has not been nullified by any court of jurisdiction in Nigeria.
Spokesperson of the coalition in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere explained that the Appeal Court did not void the declaration of the seat of the 27 pro-Wike sacked lawmakers in its sitting held yesterday in Abuja.
Ugochinyere in company of three other lawmakers disclosed this while briefing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, yesterday.
Ugochinyere alleged that Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had on May 10, issued an interim injunction that restrained the sacked lawmakers loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as members of the Assembly, having decamped from the political party that sponsored their elections.
According to the spokesman, the court order followed a suit that filed by Victor Oko-Jumbo who subsequently emerged Speaker of the Assembly.
He informed that the litigants, in their suit, contended that Martin Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly since December 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant”.
“While upholding the case of the plaintiffs, Justice Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly”.
He, however, revealed that the appellate court, ruling on a suit lodged before it by the former lawmakers led by the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Amaewhule, yesterday, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.
Consequently, the G60 stressed that the Pro-Wike sacked lawmakers seat remains vacant, as the Appeal Court did not decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seat vacant.
According to him, the Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or otherwise of decampment, thereby ruling against the Rivers High Court proceedings.
He stressed that the legal fire works continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject of pending litigation.
He said, “The Court of Appeal’s ruling today should not be misconstrued in any way. The Pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seat remains vacant as the court did not decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant.
“The court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment, thereby ruling against the Rivers High Court proceedings.
“Also the local government chairmen whose tenure have since expired remains expired and cannot be extended and was never extended. There is nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting, it is like a coup taking over constitutional governance.”
He called on Rivers people and indeed all Nigerians to stand on the path of justice as this will help the country to move from strength to strength.
The G60 urged President Bola Tinubu to rise above board and ensure that those fermenting trouble in Rivers State are called to order.
They consequently called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun to investigate recent bomb explosion in Rivers so as to bring the perpetrators to book.
