Court rejects stay of execution for sacked Rivers State Assembly members

Sacked Pro-Wike Rivers State assembly Lawmakers have faced another setback as an appeal court has rejected their request to stay execution of the order barring them from parading themselves as lawmakers after their sack.

The Court of Appeal in Port-Harcourt at a virtual hearing on Friday via Zoom gave its ruling on two motions filed by Martins Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers challenging the order of injunction granted by the Rivers State High Court restraining them from acting as lawmakers.

The court, in ruling on the first motion, granted the appellants’ prayers for leave to compile and transmit the records of appeal, deeming the appellants’ brief of argument as filed, accelerated hearing and a stay of further proceedings at the High Court.

The Court of Appeal however refused to grant the prayer for stay of execution and setting aside the interim order of the lower court as there is a presumption of correctness of an order of a court. It held that granting same would be tantamount to determining the appeal at this stage. The court went on to order that the present status quo should be maintained pending the hearing of the appeal.

Ruling on the second motion, which was brought to set aside the interlocutory injunction of the lower court, the Court of Appeal also refused the prayer, and reiterated that the ‘present’ status quo should be maintained. The respondents are to file their briefs within 72 hours of being served. The case has been adjourned to June 20 for hearing of the appeal.

Reacting to the court judgement, the spokesperson of opposition lawmakers known as the G60, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, hailed the judiciary, saying that the judgement was in the interest of democracy and justice.

He said the ruling will help maintain peace, stability and stop the endless attempt by sacked Lawmakers to undermine democracy.

He added that the ruling is a good defeat to the several attempt to rape democracy norms.