Appeal Court Reserves Judgment In Rivers Assembly Crisis Suit

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 others against Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.

The appeal is challenging a high court judgment that declared their seats vacant and sought to set aside decisions made by Jumbo while in office.

The appellants argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction and sought an accelerated hearing.

The respondents, however, prayed for the appeal to be dismissed, citing incompetence in the records of appeal transmitted.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada reserved a date for judgment, to be communicated to parties in the suit.

The appeal court had earlier ordered all parties to maintain status quo and cease hostilities until the matter is heard and decided.

THE WHISTLER reported that the Rivers State High Court, had on May 10 2024, declared Amaewhule’s seat vacant, barring him from parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, leading to the appeal.