A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the Rivers State Government led by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others, against the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 other lawmakers.
The plaintiffs had filed the suit challenging the legitimacy of Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers following their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
DAILY POST reports that when the matter came up in court, counsel to the lead claimant applied for an adjournment.
This application was opposed by counsel to the respondents, and the court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obile, agreed with the respondents’ argument.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Obile declined jurisdiction, stating that the issue had already been determined by the Supreme Court in a separate case.
He therefore dismissed the suit.
Justice Obile had earlier dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party in Rivers State, also challenging the alleged defection of the suspended Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, and 26 others.
In that ruling, he similarly cited a lack of jurisdiction and maintained that he could not preside over a matter already decided by the Supreme Court.
