Court strikes out suit challenging legality of Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers crises

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out a suit challenging the legality of President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the political crises in the state.

The suit was struck out by the court for lack of jurisdiction.

The case was filed by 10 representatives of sons and daughters of the state led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe against President Tinubu, the Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The plaintiffs had sought the constitutional interpretation of the peace accord and whether the directives contained in the documents to resolve the political impasse in the state were not at variance with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

They also sought to know whether the president had the legal right to direct the governor to re-present the 2024 budget to 24 members of the House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule even after their seats were declared vacant.

The applicants further demanded to know whether it was proper for names of commissioners, who had willingly resigned their offices to be re-submitted for screening.

They wanted the court to determine whether the 24 House of Assembly members led by Amaewhule after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) still had the right to be members of the legislature.

But when the matter came up on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu, discountenanced all motions and declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Nworgu cited the judgment of James Omotosho of Abuja High Court, which nullified the activities of the Edison Ehie-led faction of the Assembly.