Rivers: Factional Speaker Seeks To Jail Colleagues

For allegedly disobeying a court order, Ehie Ogerenye Edison, the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly has urged the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to jail his counterpart, Martin Chike Amaewhule.

‘A notice of consequence of disobedience of a court order’ (Form 48), was filed by Edison against Amaewhule and his deputy, Dumle Maol.

The Form 48 is dated November 22 and is signed by the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division.

The other respondents are the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of the Department of State Security Service (SSS) in Rivers State.

The applicants, in the suit numbered FHC/PHC/CS/240/2023, alleged that the respondents disobeyed the order made on November 7 by Justice Phoebe Ayuba.

Justice Ayuba had ordered that none of the parties on record should take any action that would be sub-judice.

The judge had ruled: “That an order is made directing the plaintiffs/applicants to put the respondents on notice forthwith.

“That an order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter in this matter, since the matter is already before this court – sub judice – pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notion.”

He gave the ruling after the applicants sought a declaration that Amaewhule and Maol, having been suspended, were not entitled to participate, disturb, interfere or obstruct the performance of the legislative proceedings of the House.

They also sought an order restraining the two “former” principal officers from interfering or participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.

Despite the order by Justice Ayuba, Edison said Amaewhule allegedly held a sitting of the House.