Lawyers Ask Chief Judge To Probe Order On Fresh Elections In Rivers

The controversy trailing the suspension of 26 lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly took a new turn yesterday with Lawyers In Defence of Democracy, calling on the chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to investigate the process that led to the order issued by Justice Donatus Okorowo.

 He had stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the lawmakers.

Last week, four lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended 26 other members of the House.

The Rivers State High Court also ordered that a fresh election should be conducted to fill the seats of the 26 lawmakers.

But there was a new twist into the controversy yesterday, when it was gathered from the Court of Justice Okorowo that a fresh order was issued on December 15, restraining INEC from conducting fresh election to fill the seats of the suspended lawmakers.

It was confirmed from the court that Justice Okorowo issued the order calling for investigation.

According to him, the investigation is necessary in order not to soil the reputation of the judiciary.

He said, “We have done so much in the defence of this democracy and we will continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to defend this democracy.”