The Court of Appeal in Abuja has deferred judgment in the appeal brought by Martin Amaewhule, former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and 24 others against Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.
The appellate court session, conducted virtually on Thursday, saw both parties adopting their briefs in the matter.
Amaewhule and his colleagues are seeking the court’s intervention to stay the execution of a High Court judgment that ousted them from office.
They further request a halt to further proceedings in the suit and the reversal of decisions made by Oko-Jumbo while in office, arguing that the initial court order lacked jurisdiction.
In response, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the appeal on grounds of procedural incompetence in the records of appeal transmitted.
Following the arguments, the three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada reserved judgment, with the date to be communicated to all involved parties.
Earlier on June 14, the Court of Appeal had ordered a maintenance of status quo among all parties involved, restraining any further hostilities until a final decision is reached. This directive stemmed from an ex parte motion by the appellants seeking to overturn the High Court’s declaration of their seats as vacant.
The appellate court also barred any lower court, including the State High Court, from entertaining the matter until it has been fully adjudicated.
The crisis originated from a May 10, 2024 ruling by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, which stripped Martin Amaewhule of his position as Speaker and barred 24 other Assembly members from legislative activities under the Rivers State House of Assembly banner.
This decision came in response to a motion by Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others, asserting that Amaewhule’s seat had been legally declared vacant.
Displeased with this outcome, Amaewhule and his associates took their case to the Court of Appeal, marking a pivotal chapter in the ongoing legal battle over leadership within the Rivers State legislature.