The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the factional Speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 others against the Speaker of the opposing faction, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and five others.
The decision of the appellate court is akin to postponing “evil day” in Rivers State over the ongoing crisis of who controls the local government administration between the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State House of Assembly with the expiration of the tenure of the elected local government chairmen.
Tuesday, June 18, saw widespread violence across the 23 local government councils as supporters of the governor and the local government chairmen and their supporters fought over who took charge of the local councils.
The crisis led to the loss of 3 lives, including those of a police officer, a vigilante operator, and a student, and forced the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Agbotekun, to order the takeover of the council secretariats by policemen.
Though both warring parties proceeded with other actions like the appointment, screening, and swearing of caretaker committee members, they were doing so in anticipation of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which they believe holds the key to the final resolution of the crisis.
Amaewhule and others are asking the court to stay the execution of a high court judgement that saw them out of office and further proceedings in the suit, and that whatever decisions Jumbo has taken while in office should be set aside.
They are also asking for an accelerated hearing in the matter while contending that the order made by the trial court was without jurisdiction.
But the three-man panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada, on Thursday reserved a date for judgement to be communicated to parties in the suit.
With the outcome of Thursday’s proceeding, the local government councils would continue to be occupied by the police after the IGP ordered the continued occupation of the council secretariats, a move that many across the state have condemned.
Speaking exclusively to the Nigerian Tribune, a politician and public commentator in the state, Captain Obasi, described the police action of the continued barricade of the council secretariats as undemocratic.
He said, “It is purely undemocratic. The duty of the police is to secure lives and property and to ensure peace and security. It is not their duty to interfere with democratic governance.
“Their continued barricade of the secretariats is tantamount to interfering with democratic governance. Are they anticipating anarchy?
“The state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Chief Security Officer of the state have sworn in caretaker committee chairmen at the local government councils.
“The role of the police is to help the governor ensure peace and security at the councils and not interfere with governance.”
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