Gov Fubara Planning To Halt Impeachment Proceedings Through Court Order-Rivers Assembly

Governor Siminalayi Fubara is planning to halt the impeachment proceedings that the Rivers State House of Assembly began against him last week by obtaining a court order that will stop the state parliament from performing its constitutional functions, the state lawmakers alleged on Sunday.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Chairman, House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr Enemi George raised the allegations in a statement he issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

 Recall that the House of Assembly had last week begun impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu and allegations of gross misconduct had been leveled against them.

The ex parte order, Dr Enemi George added, will be granted by a Rivers State High Court outside the state capital.

The state lawmakers however warned those who are planning to get the court order to suspend such a plan.

‘The Rivers State House of Assembly has received information of plots by certain persons to utilize some Rivers State High Courts, especially those outside the Port Harcourt Judicial Division, to issue ex parte orders to illegally stop the Rivers State House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties.

These persons are fully aware of the provisions of Section 272(3) of the Constitution, which states that, ‘subject to the provisions of Section 251 and other provisions of the Constitution, the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of a House of Assembly of a state, governor or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant’.

Also, Section 188(10) provides that ‘no proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court’.

These persons are also aware of judicial pronouncements on this issue, particularly recent decisions of the Court of Appeal concerning similar ex parte orders issued by a Rivers State High Court contrary to Section 272(3) of the Constitution. A word is enough for the wise.

 With the leave of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I call on those concerned to exercise restraint and desist from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law.

All that is required is for the office holders who have been duly served with the notice of allegations of gross misconduct to respond to them item by item, rather than deploy efforts to subvert the law or use proxies to malign members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the media.

We remain committed to the Constitution and the rule of law. May God bless Rivers State and Nigeria’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com   Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you.