A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, ordered a factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, to preside over the activities of the legislative arm of the state pending the determination of a motion before it.
It also stopped lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from using the assembly premises following the directive of the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that the facility was under renovation.
Justice M.W Danagogo, gave this order, in an experte motion of Suit No. PHC/3030/CS/2023 in which Rivers State House of Assembly is the first claimant and Ehie as second claimant and Martin Amaewhule is the first defendant while Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, is the second defendant.
In the process which was prepared by D.I Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and others, Edison wants the court to order Amaewhule and others to stop going into the state assembly complex until the burnt chamber is fully renovated by the government.
Edison also wants the court to order that he lawfully take over the speakership of the state assembly until the matter is dispensed, praying that Amaewhule should be stopped from conducting himself as the speaker of the House.
However, the court in an Interim Order granted the requests of the applicant, urging Amaewhule and others to stop using the Assembly premises following the directive of the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that the facility was under renovation.
In the order, the court threatened that Edison would pay N50m as damages if the application before the court turns out to be frivolous.
It, however, ordered the claimants to serve the Interim Order, the Motion on Notice already filed, the Originating Process and other processes in this suit on the defendants on or before December 13, 2023.
The court granted leave to the claimants to serve all the processes by substituted means by publication in two national newspapers or by posting at a conspicuous part of the last known address of the defendants and adjourned till December 21 for motion on notice.
Punch