A civil society group, Society for Open Justice in Nigeria, has warned against move to upturn an interim injunction by a Rivers State High Court, restraining the pro-Wike Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers from parading themselves as legislators.
In a statement signed by its president, Oloyede Kadiri, the group stated that this portends grave danger for democracy in Rivers state and Nigeria.
“Any attempt at compromising the justices of the Appeal Court is a coup on democracy. Those whose actions and inaction have contributed to the political impasse in Rivers State are enemies of democracy.
“If this anomaly is allowed in Rivers State, it can happen in any state in the country. The implication would be the end of democracy or any semblance of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The group also warned the plotters to desist from political blackmail and other acts that have disrupted governance in the state.
The group further called on the Justices of the Appeal Court to resist any overtures to compromise and give a ruling in favour of the 25 lawmakers.
“The Society for Open Justice is calling on the Honourable Justices of the Appeal Court to resist any form of overtures by some vested interest in the Rivers state debacle. We know the tremendous pressure from different quarters to obstruct justice.”
“We are confident that the Honourable Justices of the Appeal Court would resist any overtures and stand on the side of equity, justice and fairness. Nigeria is not a banana republic where individuals ascribe to themselves the power to violate the rights and privileges of the people.”
There has been a running battle for controlling the Rivers State House of Assembly, with 25 former lawmakers decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC). This move opened a litany of litigation.
Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued an interlocutory injunction, barring Speaker Martin Amaewhule and associated lawmakers from further sitting and parading themselves as members of the state House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
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