On Monday, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt ruled that a petition demanding the National Assembly’s takeover of the activities of the Rivers Assembly be transferred to the Abuja Division.
The court, presided over by Justice P. M. Ayua, ruled that because the National Assembly is listed as the first respondent in the case and there is a similar action filed in Abuja with the same parties, the case in Port Harcourt should be sent to Abuja for hearing and determination.
The claim was filed by a lawyer, Kingsley Igbaki, and four others, with the Rivers State Government and the State Attorney-General as second and third respondents.
It is pleading for a determination that the Rivers Assembly cannot discharge its legislative functions as a result of the current factional and leadership instability.
It also seeks an order instructing the National Assembly to undertake the legislative powers of the Rivers Assembly in compliance with Section 14(4) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Earlier, the petitioners’ lawyer, Frank Ayebaekipreye, begged the court to issue a ruling in their favor.
All essential legal processes, according to Ayebaekipreye, had been filed and served on all respondents in the dispute.
However, the respondents’ lawyer, C. N Eke, called the court’s attention to a similar case before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which sought an order preventing the National Assembly from taking over Rivers State’s legislative powers.