A Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the political crisis in Rivers State has shed light on why the apex court restored the Martin Amaewhule-led leadership of the State House of Assembly.
In a 62-page judgement obtained by reporters, the apex court made it clear that there was no iota or shred of evidence to support the claim of defection made against the 27 members of the House of Assembly from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In the judgement signed by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Apex court said that the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who raised the allegations of defection against the 27 lawmakers on his own volition withdrew the allegations at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The apex court held that in the eyes of the law, no defection has taken place and consequently the status quo in the House of Assembly must remain.
Justice Agim, who endorsed the judgement copy specifically held that there cannot be any House of Assembly unless as prescribed by the 1999 Constitution, adding that the Constitution did not envisage or support the position of Governor Fubara to recognize only four members of the House.
Consequently, the apex court held that it is an aberration for Governor Fubara to make any request, nominations and presentations to the Rivers State House of Assembly unless the one led by Hon Martin Amaewhule and believed to be loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike.
