By Our Reporter
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the removal of Martins Chike Amaewhule and 26 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a virtual ruling on Friday, the Appellate Court stated that reversing the decision of a Federal High Court, which declared their seats vacant, would amount to pre-judging the ongoing appeal.
The three-member panel set June 20 for the hearing of the appeal by Amaewhule and others, who seek to regain their seats in the State House of Assembly.
The justices urged all parties to maintain the status quo and refrain from any hostilities until the matter is heard and decided.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday, said there is no cause to worry over the decision of the Appeal Court on the crisis in the State House of Assembly.
The governor who spoke during an inspection of the reconstruction of the Zonal Hospital project in Bori Town, the headquarters of the Khana Local Government Area of the state, said he is not deterred by the appellate court’s decision on the assembly crisis.
“I want to assure every one of you and the good people of Rivers State, that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is,” he said.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the order of a Rivers High Court which restrained Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from parading themselves as lawmakers of the State Assembly.
A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Jimi Olukayode-Bada, held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, as such matters can only be heard and determined before a Federal High Court.
But Fubara said the worst is over, saying he has moved on to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State.
“But, like I said before, the worst is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our state.
“I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. Government has its own challenges. If you go to the book of Psalm 23 verse 5, in the Bible, it said that God prepares a table before you; it can be before anybody. But there is an underlined word that should be noted here: it said ‘in the presence of your enemies’. So, it means that nothing comes easy.”