*Police To Vacate Rivers Councils Secretariats After Court Judgment, Says IGP 

THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, June 20, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by a former speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other ex-lawmakers against the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and five others.

The higher court adjourned after the parties in the suit adopted all their briefs in the matter at virtual proceeding

Amaewhule and others are asking the court to stay execution, the ruling of a Rivers State High Court that they ceased to be members of the Assembly and stop parading themselves as such, having lost their seats by defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform they were elected, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They also want the appellate court to set aside whatever decisions Jumbo has taken while in office, as well as asking for an accelerated hearing in the matter, contending that the order made by the trial court was without jurisdiction.

     After listening to the submission of the lawyers in the appeal, the three-man panel, led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada, reserved judgment for a date to be communicated to parties in the suit.

The appellate court had in a ruling on June 14, ordered that all parties in the suit maintain status quo and cease every form of hostilities until the matter was heard and  motion exparte brought before the court by the appellants seeking reversal of a high court judgment that declared their seats vacant as lawmakers is decided.

The appeal court also stopped the state High Court or any other lower court from entertaining the matter until it was decided.

Recall that a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had on May 10, 2024, stopped Amaewhule from parading himself as speaker of the Assembly after considering a motion brought before it by Jumbo and two others to the effect that his seat had been declared vacant.

Justice Charles Wali, while ruling on the motion ex parte, also barred 24 other members of the Assembly from accessing the complex or carrying out any such legislative assignment in the name of the Assembly.

     Dissatisfied with the ruling, Amaewhule and others approached the appellate court.

      Prior to the court proceedings, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr.  Kayode Egbetokun, had assured that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would vacate the local government secretariats in Rivers State after a court judgment on the controversy over tenure of local council chairmen in the state.

Speaking  at a meeting with senior Police officers earlier in Abuja, on Thursday, June 20, Egbetokun said occupation of the councils secretariats by policemen was to ensure peace and order, and not to intimidate anyone, even as he directed the sustenance of the Police barricade on the secretariats to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The IGP stated that the Police would continue to occupy the secretariats until a court of competent jurisdiction delivers judgment on the vexed issue concerning the tenure of council chairman in the state.