Court of Appeal to Deliver Judgment on Amaewhule vs Jumbo Case on July 4

The Court of Appeal has set Thursday, July 4, as the date to deliver its much-anticipated judgment in the case involving the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers and the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led legislators. This ruling is expected to resolve the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State and alleviate the prevailing tension.

The judgment, listed as the sole event on the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division’s cause list for Thursday, follows an appeal against an Interlocutory Injunction from the High Court in Port Harcourt. The High Court had recognized Victor Oko-Jumbo as the Speaker and ordered Amaewhule and 24 other legislators to cease acting as members of the state House of Assembly.

In response, Martins Chike Amaewhule and his fellow lawmakers petitioned the Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court’s order, allowing them to resume their legislative duties.

Despite declining to stay the execution of the High Court’s order, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt opted to hear the case. The three-member panel, consisting of Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada, Justice Hamma Akawu, and Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu, instructed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the judgment.

The forthcoming judgment is also poised to influence the contentious issue of tenure elongation for the ousted elected local government chairmen. The Amaewhule-led lawmakers had granted these chairmen an additional six months in office, a move Governor Siminialayi Fubara condemned as unconstitutional. In response, Fubara appointed caretaker committee chairmen, screened and approved by the Oko-Jumbo-led legislators, to manage the councils.

Amid fears of potential violence, the police have taken control of the councils’ secretariats until the Court of Appeal issues its judgment. The caretaker committee chairmen are currently operating from temporary offices, and the police are expected to vacate the secretariats following the court’s decision.