Port Harcourt- River state: The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, rejected the interim order issued on May 10, 2024, by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt. This order had prevented Martin Amaewhule from acting as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Additionally, the appeal court overturned another decision from the state high court that had barred 24 other assembly members from entering the legislative complex or conducting official business on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
A three-member panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada, delivering the verdict, supported the appeal brought by Martin Amaewhule and 24 others against Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others.
In addressing the jurisdictional issue, the court ruled that according to Section 273 of the Constitution, matters like these should exclusively be heard by the Federal High Court, not by a state high court.
