Tag: Amaewhule

  • Leave Rivers Judiciary out of crisis – NBA urges Amaewhule, others

    Leave Rivers Judiciary out of crisis – NBA urges Amaewhule, others

    PORT HARCOURT: The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly and other actors in the ongoing political unrest in the state to leave the Judiciary arm out of the imbroglio.

    The eight branches of the NBA in the state, in a press statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, stated that they would not allow another shutdown of the court in the state.

    The press statement was jointly signed by Cordelia U. Eke (Mrs) Chairman, Port Harcourt Branch, Hilda Desmond-lhekaire (PhD), Chairman Ahoada Branch, Simple Dioha, Esq., Chairman, Isiokpo Branch, Abiye A. Abo, Esq., Chairman, Degema Branch, Dr. N.A. Duson, Chairman, Bori Branch, Dr. Celestine N. Nwankwo, Chairman, Okehi Branch, Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq., Chairman, Okrika Branch, and Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Esq., Chairman, Omoku Branch.

    Addressing the press on behalf of the eight branch chairmen, Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq., the Chairman, Okrika Branch, said the attention of the eight branches of the NBA has been drawn to a call by the House of Assembly on the Department of State Security, DSS, to investigate the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simeon Amadi, describing the development as unfortunate.

    Roberts cautioned that the judiciary should not be dragged into the political imbroglio in the state, adding the judiciary cannot afford to experience shutdown of courts in the state.

    He said: “The attention of the 8 branches of the NBA in Rivers State, has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th of March, 2025 directing the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate the Rivers State Chief Judge on allegations of falsification of age. It is quite unfortunate, that despite the already heated polity in Rivers State, we are still experiencing escalations such as this.

    “Thus, there is need for mutual respect amongst all the parties. We are not unaware of the existing political impasse between the Legislature and the Executive Arms of Government in Rivers State, however, we must caution that the Judiciary should not be drawn into the ongoing imbroglio for no just cause.

    “We reiterate that the independence of the Judiciary is crucial to the sustenance of peace and stability in the State, as contending parties ultimately resort to the Judiciary for the resolution of disputes as has recently been witnessed at the Supreme Court.

    “There is no need to escalate tensions as the stability of Rivers State is crucial to the economy of the State and the Country. We can easily recall the incidents in 2014-2015 which exposed the Judiciary and Judicial Officers that resulted in the closure of our Courts. We cannot afford to experience a similar occurrence in the present times we find ourselves in the State, and especially for the interests of the good people of Rivers State to have their ongoing matters in Court without interruptions.”

    Roberts noted that there is a prescribed procedure for handling issues of such stance, noting that any complaints against any judicial officer is handled by the National Judicial Council, NJC.

    He noted that the Judiciary should not be intimidated or bullied by the bidding of any other arm of government, advocating for the use of democratic process and rule of law to resolve the political war in the state.

    Roberts said: “Every action in the Public Service has a prescribed procedure which alI should respect and observe to forestall chaos and anarchy in the State. In the case of the Judiciary, any complaint against one of its officers is dealt with by the National Judicial Council (NJC), which alone has the authority to carry out any disciplinary action or authorize any investigation against any Judge.

    “The need for the protection of the Judiciary cannot be overemphasized, as the Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man, and indeed everyone, including politicians. We continue to appeal to all contenders to sheath their swords and genuinely seek peace in the interest of Rivers State and the economy of Nigeria at large.”

  • Nigerian newspapers review: Amaewhule’s Assembly, Fubara’s commissioners flex muscles

    Nigerian newspapers review: Amaewhule’s Assembly, Fubara’s commissioners flex muscles

    In today’s Nigerian newspapers review program, Today in the News, Vanguard leads with FirstBank’s groundbreaking ceremony for its new headquarters at Eko Atlantic City which will be the tallest building in Nigeria when completed.

    One headline looks at the crisis in Rivers State following the House of Assembly’s rejection of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s commissioners and the direction for him to present nominees within 48 hours.

    Another headline has Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan defending their positions after the latter accused the former of sexual harassment.

    Moving over to other Nigerian newspapers, The Guardian’s lead story says, “FirstBank takes first shot at Nigeria’s Manhattan, commences 44-storey edifice.”

    The Punch leads with Rivers State House of Assembly listing four breaches by Governor Fubara and threatening the arrest of the chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

    Lastly, The Nation’s biggest headline has President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lauding FirstBank on the takeoff of its new headquarters.

  • Rivers Assembly crisis: Supreme Court restores Amaewhule as speaker

    Rivers Assembly crisis: Supreme Court restores Amaewhule as speaker

    The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the Rivers House of Assembly led by Mr. Martin Amaewhule as the authentic and legally constituted lawmaking body in the state.

    A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji gave the order in a lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim.

    The apex court also restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from further releasing budgetary allocations to Rivers until a valid Appropriation Act is passed by a lawfully constituted house of assembly.

    In a unanimous judgment on Friday, the panel ordered that Amaewhule and the other 26 members of the assembly, who were alleged to have defected, should be allowed to resume legislative duties unhindered.

    The Supreme Court further ordered that all members of the House of Assembly are to resume normal legislative business without any hindrance to any members.

    Justice Agim condemned the conduct of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who he said chose to destroy the government of Rivers and resort to acting unlawfully by pulling down the House of Assembly owing to his fear that there were moves to impeach him.

    The apex court set aside the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which the appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on cases relating to funds belonging to Rivers.

    The panel equally awarded a cost of N5 million against Fubara and the Government of Rivers to be paid to the Rivers House of Assembly and Amaewhule. (NAN)