By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE Rivers State House of Assembly has publicly warned against what it calls an alleged plot by certain individuals to use High Courts outside the Port Harcourt Judicial Division to obtain improper ex-parte orders.
The aim, the Assembly claims, is to illegally prevent it from carrying out its constitutional duties.
In a press statement issued today and signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Dr. Enemi Alabo George DSSRS, the Assembly stated it had received credible intelligence regarding these plans.
The statement read: “The Rivers State House of Assembly has received information of plots by certain persons to utilise some Rivers State High Courts, especially outside the Port Harcourt Judicial Division, to issue ex-parte orders to illegally stop the Rivers State House of Assembly from performing her constitutional duties.
“These persons are fully aware of the provisions of Section 272(5) of the Constitution, which states that ‘subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of this Constitution, the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the House of Assembly of a state, Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant’.
“Also, Section 188(10) states that ‘no proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court’.
“These persons are also fully aware of judicial pronouncements on this matter, especially recently at the Court of Appeal on a matter involving a similar ex-parte order by a Rivers State High Court contrary to Section 272(3) of the Constitution.”
The statement concluded with a direct appeal: “A word is enough for the wise. Therefore, with the leave of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I call on those concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law. All that is required is for the office holders who have already been duly served with the Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct to respond to them item by item, rather than deploy subterranean moves to subvert the law or use proxies to malign members and the Rivers State House of Assembly in the media.
“We remain committed to the Constitution and the rule of law, and may God bless our dear Rivers State and Nigeria.”
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