The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned a case brought by civil society organizations in the state against the embattled 25 members of the state House of Assembly to April 26 for a hearing.
The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Dalyopam, decided to adjourn the case after hearing from the counsels involved. He stated that the adjournment would allow all parties to the lawsuit to submit their documents and maintain a professional demeanor.
Dalyopam, however, directed all the
counsels to ensure they complete their processes of services and serve each other before the new date.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Eugene Ode, the counsel representing the plaintiff in the case, informed the press that certain parties had submitted preliminary objections questioning the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. Additionally, some counsel had failed to file responses with the court.
Ode said it was in the spirit of fair hearing and justice that the court adjourned the matter to give fair hearing and equal justice to all. He explained that the adjournment was not a setback, but to ensure that justice is served to all parties involved.
“It is also for the interest of justice to allow them to bring their processes to the court. We have taken a new date today so that at the end, nobody will say that he
was shut out of the matter.”
In his response, the state Chairman of the civil society organizations, Enefa Georgewill, stated that they had requested the court to interpret Section 119(G) of the Constitution in relation to the 25 embattled members of the state House of Assembly. These members had defected from the PDP to the APC, and there was a question as to whether they were still considered members of the House in accordance with the constitution. Georgewill argued that their actions violated Section 119(G) of the Constitution and therefore, they should vacate their seats.
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