A High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justice Jumbo Stephen, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simone Chibuzor-Amadi, and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from interacting with the Martins Amaewhule-led lawmakers.
Ruling on an ex-parte application on Monday, Justice Jumbo Stephen also stopped the CJ and the Clerk of the State Assembly from acting on any resolutions or impeachment notice from the Amaewhule-led pro-Wike lawmakers.
The suit, filed by the Attorney General of Rivers State and Governor Siminialayi Fubara, seeks to prevent the pro-Wike lawmakers from taking any actions as members of the Assembly.
The order equally restrained the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP), and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly from dealing with Amaewhule and the others as members of the Assembly.
Granting the order, Justice Stephen declared: “An order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd Defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st-27th Defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions or articles of impeachment from the Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
“The parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem in this suit as of 5th July 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
“An order is hereby made for substituted service of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st-30th Defendants by pasting the same at the Assembly Quarters, opposite former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”
The court adjourned till 15th of July 2024 to hear the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.