Rivers crisis: There’s hope in Nigerian judiciary – Group reacts to Appeal Court ruling

A group, National Vanguard for Rule of Law, says the Appeal Court’s verdict on the controversy surrounding the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly signals hope in the Nigerian judiciary.

Recalls the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara had declared the seats of 27 lawmakers including the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, vacant.

The embattled lawmakers had also approached the court seeking to vacate the Interlocutory Injunction of a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

But the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday refused to reverse their removal.

In a ruling delivered virtually, the appellate court ordered the parties in the matter to maintain the status quo, asking them to cease every form of hostilities until the matter is heard and decided.

Reacting, the group, in a statement issued by its President, Comrade Johnson Babatunde, claimed that the ruling has resurrected hope in the judiciary.

According to the group, “If the prayer to reverse the restraining order on the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was granted, they would have used that window to perpetrate more mischief against the government and people of the State.

“With justices like those of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal still in the temple of justice, it is our conviction that hope is not lost in the Nigerian judiciary.

“It is our belief that, our judges will deliver sound judgements in the other cases on the political crisis in Rivers State.”