The Appeal Court in Abuja has nullified the order of a Rivers State High Court which expelled 25 members of the state house of assembly.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Jimi Olukayode-Bada, held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The court ruled that such cases can only be heard and determined before a Federal High Court.
The case, which was filed before the Appeal Court by the Martin Amaewhule, the factional speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and 24 others, sought to vacate the order of a state high court that restrained them from parading themselves as lawmakers.
In May, the state high court judge, Charles Wali, restrained the lawmakers in Amaewhule’s faction from conducting legislative sittings anywhere, including within the legislative quarters.
The judge also restrained Siminalayi Fubara, Rovers State Governor, from interfacing with or accepting resolutions and bills from the 25 lawmakers.
The Appeal Court also held that all of the laws made by Amaewhule and others would amount to a nullity until the matter was determined.
