On Tuesday, the Rivers State Caucus at the National Assembly visited Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule in Port Harcourt, urging Governor Siminalayi Fubara to execute the Court of Appeal’s judgment that affirmed Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The federal lawmakers strongly urged the governor to respect the rule of law, stressing the importance of upholding judicial decisions.
Dumnamene Dekor, a member of the federal legislature, read the caucus’s statement, raising concerns over what they described as the “deliberate distortion of facts and judgments of courts” by Governor Fubara. They specifically accused the governor of hiring Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), including the highly regarded Femi Falana, to misinterpret and misrepresent the court’s rulings.
In a stern rebuke, the caucus called on Falana to cease his alleged misinterpretations, particularly pointing to claims about the dates of the judgment by Hon. Justice J.K. Omotosho and a false narrative about a purported defection that never occurred.
“It is regrettable that a lawyer of his stature would amplify falsehoods propagated by non-lawyers and political merchants,” the statement read. “Falana lied about the dates of Justice Omotosho’s judgment and the non-existent defection in a clear attempt to mislead the public.”
The caucus issued a warning to those involved in spreading such “falsehoods,” cautioning that it remains possible to thrive without tampering with legal proceedings or the judgments handed down by the courts. They stressed that political ambitions should not override the rule of law.
The caucus further emphasized that the judgment rendered by Justice Omotosho and upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court was clear and binding, taking effect immediately. The ruling not only affirmed Amaewhule as the Speaker but also reiterated that the 26 lawmakers named in the judgment were the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
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Among the key elements of the judgment, the caucus highlighted non-interference by Governor Fubara in the activities of the Amaewhule-led Assembly. The ruling also mandated the protection of these lawmakers by the Inspector General of Police, ensuring their security while performing their legislative duties. Additionally, it called for the disbandment of any other rival assembly or self-styled speaker, declaring that only Amaewhule and his 26 colleagues had the legal right to represent the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In no uncertain terms, the caucus warned that any attempt to engage with anyone other than the officially recognized Amaewhule-led assembly would amount to contempt of court, as the judgment of the Supreme Court is final and irrevocable.
