FHC ADJOURNS TO APRIL 16 FOR JUDGMENT ON DEFECTION OF 27 RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt will on April 16, 2025, deliver judgment in a suit on the status of twenty-seven members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, who had announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Justice EMMANUEL OBILE adjourned the matter filed by the Labour Party in Rivers State after counsel to the various parties adopted their final written addresses in respect of a fresh application by counsel to MARTIN AMAEWHULE and twenty-six others, KEN NJEMANZE.

In his submission, NJEMANZE, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), asked the court to change their earlier prayer seeking to strike out detection suit against to dismissal of the matter, following the judgment of Supreme Court which touched on the legitimacy of the lawmakers.

NJEMANZE in his oral request, maintained that if the court failed to dismiss the suit, it would amount to rewriting the judgement of the Supreme Court.

Although counsel to the Labour Party, CLIFFORD CHUKU, did not oppose the request, he argued that the issue of defection was a collateral matter decided by Supreme Court. Hence, he asked the court to strike out the application of the defendants.

CLIFFORD CHUKU further pointed out that the deponent to the affidavit of the defendants was a lawyer whose name also appeared on the suit, which he said was against the practice, and asked the court to hear the matter on its merit.

Thereafter, the Presiding Judge, Justice EMMANUEL OBELI after hearing from the parties, adjourned the matter to April 16, 2025 for ruling on the motion.