Victor Ezeja
The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has countered reports that the State High Court declared that Martin Amaewhule and 26 others were still members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and State House of Assembly
In a statement released on Monday, Iboroma described as misleading, the news that the court affirmed that the lawmakers were still members of PDP and state assembly, asserting that the information was meant to deceive the public.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the Attorney-General, who is also the 3rd defendant in suit NO DHC/20/CS/2024, the suit did not seek to declare the seat of Martins Amaewhule and 26 others in Rivers State House of Assembly vacant.
“The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter,” the Rivers Commissioner for Justice stated.
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“As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December, 2023 and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.
“By section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.
“However, you will recall that these is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No. PHC/512/CS/2024 restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers from further parading or presenting themselves as law makers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date,” he added.
Iboroma urged members of the public to disregard the reports that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared as members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
