The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, has confirmed the filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
Rt. Hon. Oko-Jumbo clarified that the action was necessitated by the fact that the Assembly “strongly believes that the Court of Appeal was in error when it held that the Rivers State High Court lacked the Jurisdiction to hear and determine SUIT NO. PHC/1512/CS/2024”.
The Speaker made the clarification when he addressed lawmakers during plenary at the temporary facility used for Legislative businesses in Port Harcourt.
Rt Hon Oko-Jumbo declared that he remains the authentic Speaker because there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State.
The Speaker reiterated that the seats of Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former lawmakers remain vacant as declared by the then speaker, Rt Hon Edison Ehie, on 13th December, 2023, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 11th day of December, 2023.
During the plenary, the House considered two bills, opened debate, and moved them through first reading.
The bills included the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024 that was presented by the Leader of the House, Hon Sokari Goodboy, while the second one is the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024, which was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Adolphus Orubienimigha.
Rt Hon Oko-Jumbo – Speaker, RSHA
