‘Leaked Ruling’ To Affirm Pro-Wike Sacked Lawmakers, Impeach Fubara Worrisome- Centre

A group under the auspices of African Human Rights Centre has expressed worry over the alleged leaked ruling to legally affirm the sacked members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and pave the way for impeachment of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. […]

A group under the auspices of African Human Rights Centre has expressed worry over the alleged leaked ruling to legally affirm the sacked members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and pave the way for impeachment of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The Centre also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who allegedly prepared the ruling.

The Director of Operations and Programmes Development of the centre, Barrister Chioma Udonsi, who stated this in statement on Sunday called on lawyers to rise up to the occasion which poses threat to the rule of law and democracy in the country.

According to him, Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, last week gave an interim order, restraining the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and his deputy, Hon. Dumle Maol, from forcefully gaining access into the Assembly complex, pending the hearing of the suit before it.

He also noted that 27 members of the House of Assembly, led by Amaewhule, had on the floor of the House last Monday, announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Raising the alarm, Udonsi said: “See the leaked draft of an alleged already written on an EXPARTE application secretly filled in the night by Pro wike former lawmakers which the Judge wants to deliver to stop the declaration of their seat vacant (an action that have been done) and also give them the legitimacy to move in with DSS and police to start the illegal impeachment of Gov. Fubara.

“The draft was mistakenly shared yesterday by a principal officer of pro wike group in their WhatsApp platform before hurriedly deleting it. The plan is to secure the ruling which is already written, deliver it tomorrow and serve Fubara impeachment notice Tuesday.

“The Judge already know that there is an existing High court ruling from Rivers State which barred the former lawmakers from parading themselves and also recognized Edison as New Speaker and instead directing them to Appeal it. He wants to give the Pro- Wike a midnight injunction to enable them embark on the next stage of their madness which will lead to deadly crisis, the statement read in part.

“Let lawyers and lovers of Democracy storm the Court to show the judge that the eyes of the world is on him.”