Rivers: Court Threatens Contempt Order Against Ex-Speaker, Deputy Over Monday Sitting

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has issued Form 48 against the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol for contempt of court.

The issuance of the form 48 was pursuant to an application made by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ehie Ogerenye Edison and the Rivers State House of Assembly for disobeying the order of the Court made on November 7, 2023.

Court in suit number FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, filed by Rivers State House of Assembly, as first plaintiff, and Rt.Hon. (Barr) Ehie Ogerenye Edison (Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly) as second plaintiff had ordered parties not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit before the court.

The defendants are Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, (Former Speaker, Rivers House of Assembly), Rt.Hon. Dumle Maol, (Former Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly) the Inspector General of Police, the Director, Department of State Security Services, Rivers State, and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.

But, on Monday, the House of Assembly, under Amaewhule had sat at the Assembly complex under alleged police coverage and deliberated on a number of issues.

Edison, in the processes filed in court, accused the former speaker of invading the Rivers State House of Assembly and purportedly holding a sitting of the House in flagrant violation of the order of the court for parties to maintain status quo. 

However, in view of this, the court entered Form 48 titled ‘Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Order of Court’, dated November 22, 2023 and signed by the registrar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division. 

The notice issued in the case presided over by Justice Phoebe Ayua warned that the contemnors would be liable to be committed to prison unless they obey the order of the Court and maintain status quo.

It read: “To: 1. Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule (Former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, House of Assembly Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State) 2. Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol (Former Deputy, Speaker State House of Assembly, Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State).

“Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.” 

Recall that Justice Ayua, upon an application by Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison and the Rivers State House of Assembly, issued an order directing all parties to the Rivers Assembly crisis to maintain the status and not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit until the determination of the motion on notice and adjourned till November 27, 2023.