Rivers crises: Appeal Court orders substituted service on speaker, 24 lawmakers
From Chris Eze, Port Harcourt
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday granted an exparte order of substituted service on Hon. Martins Amaewhule, purported Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly and his 24 other
A three man panel of judges led by Hon. Justice Oluayemisi Williams -Dawodu held that Hon. Amaewhule and 24 others be served through substituted means or WhatsApp.
This followed an application by the counsel to the applicants, Elder Wilcox Abereton (SAN) who informed the court that it has been difficult and “life threatening” to serve Hon. Amaewhule and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as a result of tight security details around them occasioned by the political tension in Rivers State.
The counsel cited a sworn affidavit by the bailiff of court who went to serve the respondents and was warned and threatened not to come to serve any further process again but that he could paste it if he has the order of court to do so.
Other prayers granted by the court include an order of accelerated hearing of the appeal.
The matter has been adjourned to 8th April 2024 for further hearing.
Speaking to journalists outside the court premises, High Chief Anab Sara-Igbe on behalf of other nine appellants expressed satisfaction at the proceedings of the court adding that Rivers people are very interested in that matter and want justice to be done.
He urged Nigerians to be on alert to know if the country has a constitution that embraces rights, equity and justice.
It would be recalled that Hon. Justice Chiwendu Nworgu of the Federal High court, Abuja had on the 23rd January, 2024 struck out the matter for lack of Jurisdiction without entertaining motion from all parties.
In the heat of the political crisis which engulfed Rivers State late last year, Rivers elders led by High Chief Anab Sara-Igbe and Forum of leaders of Rivers State had dragged President Tinubu President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sir Simnalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Martins Ahmewhule and 24 others who purport to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to seek the constitutional validity of the the eight point Presidential directive on Rivers people and section 109 sub 1(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the status of members of the house who have defected from the PDP to the APC.
