Rivers PDP contests court jurisdiction on suspended lawmakers
MAY 7, 2013
Amaechi’s plane
Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of a Port Harcourt High Court to hear the case between it and 27 lawmakers suspended from the party.
The affected lawmakers, including the Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, and House Leader, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, had on April 26, 2013, approached the court to challenge their suspension from the political party
Counsel for the state PDP, Mr. Ken Njemanze (SAN), told the court, presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, that the issue of jurisdiction was fundamental in the hearing of such case.
Njemanze said, “This morning, we (PDP) filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of this honourable court to entertain the matter and the parties in the case have been served.
“The issue of jurisdiction is very fundamental in this case and we are equally asking the court to strike out this matter for these fundamental vices. We are equally saying that the action, as it is, is incompetent and not justiceable because of the reasons we have given.”
Also, counsel for the third defendant, Mr. Donald Chika (SAN), pointed out that there were a lot of issues to address in the matter brought before the court, including the determination on whether the case was properly filed.
The court, however, adjourned the matter till May 23, 2013.
Meanwhile, five members of the House of the Rivers State House of Assembly have expressed surprise over the absence of other lawmakers for Monday’s resumption of sitting.
The five members of the House perceived to be anti-Rotimi Amaechi lawmakers, showed up at the House of Assembly complex, even when the Speaker, the Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd and 25 others stayed away from the meeting.
Amachree, had announced the indefinite postponement of the sitting through a statement released in Port Harcourt around 11.55pm on Sunday.
But the five members, who were not among those suspended by the State Peoples Democratic Party, said they were not informed that the sitting had been put off.
The lawmakers are Mr. Evab Bipi representing Ogubolo Constituency, Martin Amaehule (Obio/Akpor Constituency 1), Kelechi Worgu (Omuma Constituency), Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt Constituency 3) and Chinda Michael Oke (Obio/Akpor 2).
Speaking with newsmen in the Assembly complex, Evan Bipi queried the alleged committee report with which the House decided to suspend the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.
Also, Victor Ihunwo said though the House believed in the rule of law, it did not follow Order 22, Rule 1 and 4 in the suspension of the council chairman.
He said, “They (27 members) did not follow Order 22, Rule 1 and 4 in suspending the chairman. What is chasing (27 lawmakers) them could be because of what they did to Obio/Akpor chairman. Everybody should be fine and simple.
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