The Rivers State House of Assembly has sounded an alarm over what it describes as a “secret plot” to use the state’s judiciary to illegally halt its constitutional functions.
This accusation comes just 48 hours after the Assembly initiated a fresh impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The Assembly, through its Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Dr. Enemi Alabo George, stated it has uncovered plans by unnamed individuals to procure exparte orders from High Courts outside the Port Harcourt Judicial Division.
The objective, according to the release, is to unconstitutionally prevent the legislature from performing its duties, specifically the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
The statement firmly cited constitutional provisions to back its warning. It referenced Section 272(3), which grants exclusive jurisdiction over questions of a Governor or Deputy Governor’s tenure to the Federal High Court, and Section 188(10), which bars any court from entertaining questions related to impeachment panel proceedings.
“This is a word for the wise. We call on those concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law”, the statement stated.
Hon. George emphasised that the officials served with notices of gross misconduct should respond to the allegations directly rather than pursue what he termed “subterranean moves” or use proxies to malign the Assembly in the media.
The Assembly also pointed to a recent Court of Appeal judgment that nullified a similar exparte order from a Rivers State High Court, reinforcing its position.
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