The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Iboroma, has clarified misconceptions regarding a recent court ruling concerning Martin Amaewhule and 26 others’ membership status in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA).
Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), emphasized that the State High Court did not declare Amaewhule and others as PDP members or members of the RSHA.
He described reports suggesting otherwise as misleading and aimed at deceiving the public.
In his statement issued in Port Harcourt, Iboroma explained that the suit in question, identified as Suit No. DHC/20/CS/2024, did not seek to declare the seats of Amaewhule and the other lawmakers vacant. Instead, the suit was struck out due to jurisdictional issues.
The clarification from the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice aims to provide accurate information regarding the court ruling and dispel any misunderstandings.
As the legal process unfolds, it remains essential to uphold transparency and integrity in reporting to ensure public trust and confidence in the judicial system.
He said: “The suit of the claimants was struck out for want of locus standi and jurisdiction and also for being an abuse of court process which robbed the trial court of jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
“As you all know, Martins Amaewhule and 26 others defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th Day of December, 2023, and stated that much in affidavit evidence deposed to by Martins Amaewhule for himself and on behalf of 26 others in Suit No.
FHC/ABJ/1681/CS/2023 before Hon. Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The Suit is still pending in court.
“By Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it is only the Federal High Court that can determine whether Martins Amaewhule and 26 others are still members of Peoples Democratic Party and also members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This much was held by the trial court.
“However, you will recall that there is a subsisting order of interlocutory injunction in Suit No.
PHC/1512/CS/2024, restraining Martins Amaewhule and his co-travellers from further parading or presenting themselves as lawmakers in Rivers State pending the determination of the substantive suit, which has not been appealed against till date,” he added.
He, however, urged the public to disregard the reports that Martins Amaewhule and 26 others have been declared as members of PDP and the Rivers State House of Assembly.