A High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a lawsuit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation on resolving the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, citing lack of jurisdiction.
The suit was filed by ten representatives under the banner of “Sons and Daughters of Rivers State” against President Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Led by His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe, the group questioned the constitutionality of the President’s directives and sought interpretation on several key points.
One major question raised was whether the President overstepped his authority by instructing Governor Fubara to present the 2024 budget to a faction of the House of Assembly led by Amaewhule, whose seats were previously declared vacant. Additionally, the suit challenged the reappointment of commissioners who had resigned and the continued membership of lawmakers who had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Judge Chinwendu Nworgu, however, declined to delve into these issues, stating the court lacked the authority to hear the case. She cited a recent judgment from the Abuja High Court by Justice James Omotosho, which invalidated the actions of a faction of the House led by Edison Ehie.
In reaction to the judgement, Sara-Igbe declared that the group remained undeterred in the fight for the soul of Rivers. He also announced plans to appeal the High Court’s decision