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Court Sets Date For Judgment On LP’s Suit Against Rivers Lawmakers

Published

1 month ago

Mar 17, 2025.

Court Sets Date For Judgment On LP’s Suit Against Rivers Lawmakers.
The case challenges the alleged defection of Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers.
The defense seeks dismissal, citing a Supreme Court ruling on their legitimacy.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set April 16, 2025, to deliver its ruling on a case filed by the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State, challenging the alleged defection of Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, adjourned proceedings after both legal teams submitted their final written arguments. The latest motion, presented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ken Njemanze, sought to amend an earlier request to strike out the case, urging the court instead to dismiss the suit entirely.

Njemanze argued that dismissing the case was necessary following a recent Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the legitimacy of the lawmakers.

Suit Against Rivers Lawmakers

He contended that allowing the case to proceed would contradict the apex court’s decision.

However, Labour Party’s counsel, Clifford Chuku, countered that the issue of defection was not a primary matter in the Supreme Court’s ruling and urged the court to reject the application. Chuku also raised concerns over the validity of the defendants’ affidavit, noting that it was signed by a lawyer who is a party in the case, which he argued violated legal standards.

After considering both arguments, Justice Obile fixed April 16 for a ruling on the motion.