Rivers Assembly Crisis: Court adjourns hearing till April 30

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned a matter seeking interpretation on the status of the embattled Rivers State House of Assembly members led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martin Amaehule.

The court, presided over by Justice E. A. Obile, adjourned the matter till April 30, 2025, for the adoption of the parties’ written addresses.

Justice Obile’s decision was based on the fact that similar cases are pending before the Supreme Court.

He said that the Federal High Court would not share jurisdiction on pending matters with the apex court of Nigeria.

The judge assured the counsels that hearing notices would be served on them after the Supreme Court dispenses with the cases before it.

Justice Obile said, “It is important to await the decisions of the Supreme Court to know the extent of its decision. Besides, this court would not share proceedings with the Supreme Court.

“If the Supreme Court delivers its ruling judgments, then we’ll serve you hearing notices.”

Earlier, Counsel for the 1st – 15th Defendants, Dan Orbih, orally applied for an adjournment to enable himself and his team of lawyers to study the recent Supreme Court ruling on the suit withdrawn by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

Orbih told the court that they only received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and would need time to study it and respond accordingly.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Yusuf Ali, however, did not object to the defendants’ application.

Speaking with journalists outside the courtroom, the Attorney General of Rivers State, Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, said, “This is the case of the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 11th day of December 2023.

“The person that adjourned the proceedings further to the 30th of April 2025.”